Working Paper: NBER ID: w10046
Authors: Rosalie Liccardo Pacula; Beau Kilmer
Abstract: We examine the relationship between marijuana use and non-drug related crime using data on arrests from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program and Uniform Crime Reports. There is a positive association between self-reported use at the time of the offence and non-drug related violent, property and income-producing crime even after accounting for other substance use in the ADAM data. Reduced form equations using both data sets only provide evidence supporting a causal mechanism for property and income-producing crime. In the case of violent crime, we find a statistically significant association with arrests but not reported crime, suggesting that marijuana use may just influence the likelihood of getting caught committing these crimes.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: K14; K42; I18
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Marijuana use (I12) | Likelihood of being arrested for property crimes (K42) |
| Marijuana use (I12) | Likelihood of being arrested for income-producing crimes (K42) |
| Marijuana use (I12) | Likelihood of being apprehended for violent crimes (K42) |
| Marijuana price (D41) | Property crime arrests (K42) |
| Marijuana price (D41) | Income-producing crime arrests (K42) |
| Alcohol use (L66) | Likelihood of being arrested for property crimes (K42) |
| Cocaine use (I12) | Likelihood of being arrested for property crimes (K42) |