Riffe, Kaitlin and Hendrix, Nicole and Van Patten, Isaac and Bolin, Riane RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION AND CRIME IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY IN DENVER, COLORADO. 2018. Radford University, Thesis. Radford University Scholars' Repository.
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Abstract
Recreational marijuana legalization is a growing phenomenon in the United States. Currently, eight states and the District of Columbia permit the sale of recreational marijuana. Recreational use refers to ingestion of the drug without physician recommendation for the purposes of intoxication. A review of the literature indicates there is still much to be understood about the relationship between drug use and crime and recreational marijuana legalization itself. Some fear that an increase in availability will result in direct harm to a community. The current study utilized an interrupted time series analysis and multiple linear regression to test the impact of recreational marijuana legalization on crime in Denver, Colorado in the context of social disorganization theory. Findings suggest that the introduction of recreational marijuana into a community may not significantly impact rates of reported crime per 100,000 residents. However, when covariates derived from concepts of social disorganization theory are accounted for, legalization has a significant impact on Part 1, violent, and disorder crime in Denver, Colorado. Several variable results were inverse of the hypothesized direction. The current study concludes with a discussion of limitations and implications for continued research.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Divisions: | Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Criminal Justice |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Sep 2018 15:22 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Apr 2023 18:54 |
| URI: | http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/455 |
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