Retsudvalget 2017-18
REU Alm.del Bilag 77
Offentligt
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Medical Marijuana Laws Decreased
Drug-related Crime at the Mexican Border
of the US
Evelina Gavrilova
NHH Norwegian School of Economics
Copenhagen - Oct 25, 2017
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Medical Marijuana Laws
Medical marijuana laws (MML) legalized the
consumption and production of marijuana for patients
First MML in California in 1996. 29 states + DC
MML allow for home cultivation and dispensaries, up
to 24 plants per patient
→
In effect: cannabis consumption and small- to- medium
scale production are legal in MML states
Other decriminalisation policies target only possession
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Supply Side
Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs)
import most drugs to the US
They protect the trade with violence (homicides,
assaults, robberies)
The seven major DTOs sell most types of drugs
Marijuana is\was the nr 1 product for DTOs in terms
of market size & revenue
It is the only product grown ‘at home’
We suspect that the proceeds are used for investment
in other drugs
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Channels
1
MMLs provide licit
competition
to the cartels
Many small-medium cannabis growers with a better
product
No risk when buying
DTO’s revenues
↓
and their capacity to invest in
violence
↓
2
Spillover
channel
As more US states introduce MML, the crime at the
border
↓
(along drug routes)
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Effects on Crime at the Border
Violent
Crime
0
-12.5%
−20
−40
−60
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Effects on Crime at the Border
Violent
Crime
Murders
-9.6%
Robberies
Assaults
0
-8.8%
-12.5%
-19.3%
−20
−40
−60
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Effects on Crime at the Border
Violent
Crime
Murders Robberies Assaults
-9.6%
-19.3%
-8.8%
−20
−40
−60
Drug-related
Homicides
0
-12.5%
Partially
-40.6%
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Effects on Crime at the Border
Violent
Crime
Murders Robberies Assaults
-9.6%
-19.3%
-40.6%
-8.8%
−20
−40
−60
Drug-related
Homicides
0
-12.5%
Border
Inland
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 REU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 77: Præsentationer og talepapirer fra Retsudvalgets høring den 25. oktober 2017 om fordele og ulemper ved legalisering eller afkriminalisering af cannabis
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Conclusion
Medical Marijuana Laws led to a decrease of 12.5% in
crime at the Mexican Border
This decrease is driven by the licit competition and
spillovers along drug routes
Thank you for your attention
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