Denver Murder Rate Cut in Half After Marijuana Legalization. Coincidence?

[Chef Ramsay]

I get it, causation doesn't equal correlation but ya have to admit the drop off is quite conveniently interesting.

According to statistics recently released by the government in Denver, the amount of robberies and violent crimes significantly decreased since marijuana legalization went into effect. It is important to mention that this strong correlation is not definitive proof that legalization is the cause of this drop in crime, but it does strongly suggest that this is the case.

These statistics are especially convincing considering the short amount of time that this drastic reduction in crime has taken place. In just one short year the number of homicides dropped by 52.9%. Sexual assaults were reduced by 13.6%. Robberies were down by 4.8% and assaults were down by 3.7%.

I posted the numerical content here to bolster the title but the key surrounding, mitigating reasonings are at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/denver-crime-rate/ w/ a link to the citywide report. It's obviously huge news when any place has a reduction in violent crime but when an inner urban city has its homicide rate drop by over half that is epic .

[SirChiko]

Marijuana=everybody chills!

[Kluge]

Yeaaaah... 17 murders to 8 isn't really solid data for the same reason the 135% YOY increase in arson isn't relevant.

[Chef Ramsay]

Yeaaaah... 17 murders to 8 isn't really solid data for the same reason the 135% YOY increase in arson isn't relevant.

Haha, I have to admit I didn't view the city report. I'm from metro Detroit and was just imaging what those percentage decreases would look like in our neck of the woods for positive imagery. But hey, statistically there's 9 more people alive in Denver these days.

[Kluge]

Yeaaaah... 17 murders to 8 isn't really solid data for the same reason the 135% YOY increase in arson isn't relevant.

Haha, I have to admit I didn't view the city report. I'm from metro Detroit and was just imaging what those percentage decreases would look like in our neck of the woods for positive imagery. But hey, statistically there's 9 more people alive in Denver these days.

Oh. We should meet up some time or something. I'm over in Jackson. Yeah, even a 9% decrease in homicide there would be, what, 200 people?

[RodeoX]

In any case, I could see it cutting the murder rate linked to the Marijuana trade. Who's going to kill someone over a crop they could grow in their garden?

[TaunSew]

Maybe weed is most common drug, legalie it and then the gangs largely dissolve due to less business?

Not only are there gang wars but gang initiation.  Some gangs initiate their members by telling them to kill a stranger or w/e.

Pyschologically, gang members are trained / have confidence to ignore the law.  Take away the gangs and you're stuck with normal kids

[beetcoin]

Maybe weed is most common drug, legalie it and then the gangs largely dissolve due to less business?

Not only are there gang wars but gang initiation.  Some gangs initiate their members by telling them to kill a stranger or w/e.

Pyschologically, gang members are trained / have confidence to ignore the law.  Take away the gangs and you're stuck with normal kids

the problem is that there is a lobby that wants to lock people up, especially minorities. if you remove that, then the prison-for-profit industry will take a hit.

[jcoin200]

Imagine the drop in crime if it was legalized everywhere.  Especially mexico, what would gangs and cartels do for money?  And LEGITIMATE jobs would be created all over the place.

[wenben]

Maybe weed is most common drug, legalie it and then the gangs largely dissolve due to less business?

Not only are there gang wars but gang initiation.  Some gangs initiate their members by telling them to kill a stranger or w/e.

Pyschologically, gang members are trained / have confidence to ignore the law.  Take away the gangs and you're stuck with normal kids

the problem is that there is a lobby that wants to lock people up, especially minorities. if you remove that, then the prison-for-profit industry will take a hit.

For profit prison didn't lobby against marijuana legalization?

[jcoin200]

Maybe weed is most common drug, legalie it and then the gangs largely dissolve due to less business?

Not only are there gang wars but gang initiation.  Some gangs initiate their members by telling them to kill a stranger or w/e.

Pyschologically, gang members are trained / have confidence to ignore the law.  Take away the gangs and you're stuck with normal kids

the problem is that there is a lobby that wants to lock people up, especially minorities. if you remove that, then the prison-for-profit industry will take a hit.

For profit prison didn't lobby against marijuana legalization?

They have been for the last 100 years. 

[nickenburg]

Yeaaaah... 17 murders to 8 isn't really solid data for the same reason the 135% YOY increase in arson isn't relevant.

Yeh I think there isnt enough data to say its because of the marihuana legalization, but if after a year these rates continue.
I would say its a step in the right direction, for the rest of the states in America.
I think for sure the rates of murder would decrease, if they would legalize marihuana all over the Usa.