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Marijuana is being blamed by some for an uptick in crime in Colorado (and why they're wrong)

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Masterhawk

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Marijuana was legalized for adult use in Colorado back in 2014. Around that same time, Colorado's crime rate had begun increasing. Although most are refraining from blaming legalized weed for the increase in crime, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith is doing just that. Most people don't think that the two are related but Governor Hickenlooper won't rule it out.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/us/colorado-marijuana-and-crime/index.html

However, only three years were measured, ending at 2016. In 2016 and 2017, almost every US state saw an uptick in violent crime, 20% of which was caused by Chicago. Marijuana is also being blamed for an increase in homelessness in Denver. However, it's also growing in California's major cities and is much worse in Seattle. Another potential cause is the rise in cost of living which is 12% higher in Denver than the national average and housing is a third more expensive.
https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Denver
Has California?s homeless population ?skyrocketed?? And how does it rate nationwide? | PolitiFact California
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattl...les-homeless-crisis-the-worst-in-the-country/

Another problem is that correlation does not equal causation.

Are organic food sales causing the rise of autism?
autism_organic_foods.jpg

Would the US stop being so dependent on other countries for oil if only if people stopped consuming chicken?
download.png
 
Wow...you really can find a graph for everything can't you? Seriously? A graph for consumption of chicken compared with crude oil imports? Who the hell thinks up this stuff?
 
Instead of speculating on the reason for the rising crime and homelessness in Colorado...why don't they actually do a science-based study on it? Because if the cause is something else then criminalizing marijuana isn't going to stop the crime but it sure as hell will turn more people into criminals that weren't before.

If the crime rate was/is going up then it's more likely that the prescription opioid epidemic has something to do with it. Here's a study that suggests marijuana actually decreases fatal opiate overdoses...

https://drugabuse.com/legalizing-marijuana-decreases-fatal-opiate-overdoses/
 
Maybe an uptick in shoplifting, but that is just due to stoners forgetting to pay for their Doritos before leaving the store.
 
Moot said:
Instead of speculating on the reason for the rising crime and homelessness in Colorado...why don't they actually do a science-based study on it? Because if the cause is something else then criminalizing marijuana isn't going to stop the crime but it sure as hell will turn more people into criminals that weren't before.

If the crime rate was/is going up then it's more likely that the prescription opioid epidemic has something to do with it. Here's a study that suggests marijuana actually decreases fatal opiate overdoses...

https://drugabuse.com/legalizing-marijuana-decreases-fatal-opiate-overdoses/
Click to expand...

I heard it was immigration...an excess influx of people wanting to get into the marijuana business where there is limited availability of these well-paying, benefit rich jobs.
 
Masterhawk said:
Marijuana was legalized for adult use in Colorado back in 2014. Around that same time, Colorado's crime rate had begun increasing. Although most are refraining from blaming legalized weed for the increase in crime, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith is doing just that. Most people don't think that the two are related but Governor Hickenlooper won't rule it out.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/us/colorado-marijuana-and-crime/index.html

However, only three years were measured, ending at 2016. In 2016 and 2017, almost every US state saw an uptick in violent crime, 20% of which was caused by Chicago. Marijuana is also being blamed for an increase in homelessness in Denver. However, it's also growing in California's major cities and is much worse in Seattle. Another potential cause is the rise in cost of living which is 12% higher in Denver than the national average and housing is a third more expensive.
https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Denver
Has California?s homeless population ?skyrocketed?? And how does it rate nationwide? | PolitiFact California
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattl...les-homeless-crisis-the-worst-in-the-country/

Another problem is that correlation does not equal causation.

Are organic food sales causing the rise of autism?
View attachment 67232176

Would the US stop being so dependent on other countries for oil if only if people stopped consuming chicken?
View attachment 67232177
Click to expand...

I don't know....in this day and age it seems to me this increase in crime is probably being caused by the Russians. Everything that goes wrong is the fault of Russia and Vladimir. ;)
 
WCH said:
I heard it was immigration...an excess influx of people wanting to get into the marijuana business where there is limited availability of these well-paying, benefit rich jobs.
Click to expand...

Do you even know what is needed to start a marijuana dispensary? At least here in Nevada it is HIGHLY regulated and very hard to get one started without having a huge cash up front. This isn't normally a business where Joe Stoner can just walk in and get a commercial permit for selling marijuana. Now there may be an influx of people in Colorado for wanting to USE marijuana but it isn't to start one up unless they have the backing of a major company behind them to pitch it to the city and then pay the fees for starting it.
 
Complete reefer madness BS. The population of Denver is exploding. HOUsing prices have skyrocketed, that can contribute to increased crime and homelessness. The weather in Denver is also pretty nice.

Of course these people that make these dumb claims never provide any rational. What would legal pot have to do with homelessness?
 
Praxas said:
Do you even know what is needed to start a marijuana dispensary? At least here in Nevada it is HIGHLY regulated and very hard to get one started without having a huge cash up front. This isn't normally a business where Joe Stoner can just walk in and get a commercial permit for selling marijuana. Now there may be an influx of people in Colorado for wanting to USE marijuana but it isn't to start one up unless they have the backing of a major company behind them to pitch it to the city and then pay the fees for starting it.
Click to expand...

I was speaking of workers. IIRC, bud trimmers $22+ per hour plus great benefits. Every stoner's dream.
 
WCH said:
I was speaking of workers. IIRC, bud trimmers $22+ per hour plus great benefits. Every stoner's dream.
Click to expand...

Actually though it's way competitive for those position and just being a stoner is not going to get your hired. They look for people with actual experience and knowledge to back it up. With only a few major dispensaries, there isn't that much of a job market just yet for it.
 
Praxas said:
Actually though it's way competitive for those position and just being a stoner is not going to get your hired. They look for people with actual experience and knowledge to back it up. With only a few major dispensaries, there isn't that much of a job market just yet for it.
Click to expand...

Someone needs to get the word out to all the people who have dropped whatever they were doing and moved to the Pot states.
 
WCH said:
Someone needs to get the word out to all the people who have dropped whatever they were doing and moved to the Pot states.
Click to expand...

I think most pot enthusiasts moved there to smoke pot, not to work in the pot industry.
 
Praxas said:
I think most pot enthusiasts moved there to smoke pot, not to work in the pot industry.
Click to expand...

Whatever the reason, it's making those place less affordable. [some places were like that to begin with]
 
Kal'Stang said:
Wow...you really can find a graph for everything can't you? Seriously? A graph for consumption of chicken compared with crude oil imports? Who the hell thinks up this stuff?
Click to expand...

There is a web site that shows that correlation is not causation, and they have trends to show just about anything you want. (actually there is a number of them)

Here is one that shows a bunch of them , and you can discover more Spurious Correlations
 
Praxas said:
I think most pot enthusiasts moved there to smoke pot, not to work in the pot industry.
Click to expand...

Ehhh....

I doubt anyone would move just because some place legalized if they were a "pot enthusiast." If they're already an enthusiast, they can't have any qualms buying on the black market.
 
Mr Person said:
Ehhh....

I doubt anyone would move just because some place legalized if they were a "pot enthusiast." If they're already an enthusiast, they can't have any qualms buying on the black market.
Click to expand...

Well since the job market is very competitive I doubt joe stoner is moving there for a job so you tell me?
 
Mr Person said:
Ehhh....

I doubt anyone would move just because some place legalized if they were a "pot enthusiast." If they're already an enthusiast, they can't have any qualms buying on the black market.
Click to expand...

Older pot heads that work in fields that require drug tests have and do move to legal to use states. I've seen it before and don't think much has changed. While yes the average pot head will always find a fix on the black market, there are some that would prefer not to threaten their careers over it either.

I'm not saying that is the reason people are moving in droves to Colorado, but it does happen.
 
Even though recreational marijuana is legal in Washington State, companies that test for marijuana use can and still do. I hope that people don't move here to avoid drug testing.
 
Masterhawk said:
Marijuana was legalized for adult use in Colorado back in 2014. Around that same time, Colorado's crime rate had begun increasing. Although most are refraining from blaming legalized weed for the increase in crime, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith is doing just that. Most people don't think that the two are related but Governor Hickenlooper won't rule it out.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/us/colorado-marijuana-and-crime/index.html

However, only three years were measured, ending at 2016. In 2016 and 2017, almost every US state saw an uptick in violent crime, 20% of which was caused by Chicago. Marijuana is also being blamed for an increase in homelessness in Denver. However, it's also growing in California's major cities and is much worse in Seattle. Another potential cause is the rise in cost of living which is 12% higher in Denver than the national average and housing is a third more expensive.
https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Denver
Has California?s homeless population ?skyrocketed?? And how does it rate nationwide? | PolitiFact California
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattl...les-homeless-crisis-the-worst-in-the-country/

Another problem is that correlation does not equal causation.

Are organic food sales causing the rise of autism?
View attachment 67232176

Would the US stop being so dependent on other countries for oil if only if people stopped consuming chicken?
View attachment 67232177
Click to expand...

A question to you, Masterhawk, and all those here who are pro-Marijuana legalization: If it were proved to your satisfaction that people who consume marijuana were much more likely in the aggregate to commit a variety of crimes than people who do not consume marijuana, would your stance on marijuana legalization change? Or would this still be an acceptable price for the freedom of people to recreationally consume unprescribed mind-altering drugs?
 
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Felis Leo said:
A question to you, Masterhawk, and all those here who are pro-Marijuana legalization: If it were proved to your satisfaction that people who consume marijuana were much more likely in the aggregate to commit a variety of crimes than people who do not consume marijuana, would your stance on marijuana legalization change? Or would this still be an acceptable price for the freedom of people to recreationally consume unprescribed mind-altering drugs?
Click to expand...

Still acceptable.

I hate laws that punish everyone for the actions of the few.

Same with alcohol...we often pay a high price in drunk driving and other crime.

But entire industries and fine living are also enabled.
 
Felis Leo said:
A question to you, Masterhawk, and all those here who are pro-Marijuana legalization: If it were proved to your satisfaction that people who consume marijuana were much more likely in the aggregate to commit a variety of crimes than people who do not consume marijuana, would your stance on marijuana legalization change? Or would this still be an acceptable price for the freedom of people to recreationally consume unprescribed mind-altering drugs?
Click to expand...

Your hypothetical cannot be proved. Indeed, most studies contradict your hypothesis. People smoke pot and become couch potatoes. It's hard to commit crimes when you're sleeping on the couch or making love to your old lady.
 
Thoreau72 said:
Your hypothetical cannot be proved. Indeed, most studies contradict your hypothesis. People smoke pot and become couch potatoes. It's hard to commit crimes when you're sleeping on the couch or making love to your old lady.
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That is why my hypothetical included in the question that if it was proven to your satisfaction, not mine.

To say that people who smokes cannabis becomes a couch potatoes is kind of like saying people who drink alcohol become really friendly and jovial. Yes some do. But a lot of others go home and beat their wives. Likewise most people who smoke cannabis are quite laid back. But others engage in acts of terrorism. That is not to say, mind you, that I believe cannabis causes people to go out and commit violence. But it certainly didn't stop some folks from going out and hurting other people.
 
Legal Marijuana put Colorado on the map. People took notice. It's a great state, beautiful, dry sunny weather, beautiful mountains and nature.

Causes of increased crime are more likely the exploding population and the housing market prices going through the roof, like many other desirable cities where housing costs have gotten absurd

It's definitely not the marijuana, even though the anti Pot people will want to lie and claim it is
 
Felis Leo said:
That is why my hypothetical included in the question that if it was proven to your satisfaction, not mine.

To say that people who smokes cannabis becomes a couch potatoes is kind of like saying people who drink alcohol become really friendly and jovial. Yes some do. But a lot of others go home and beat their wives. Likewise most people who smoke cannabis are quite laid back. But others engage in acts of terrorism. That is not to say, mind you, that I believe cannabis causes people to go out and commit violence. But it certainly didn't stop some folks from going out and hurting other people.
Click to expand...

Yes, of course individual differences in reactions to any drug must be considered. And yes, so far you have not established any sort of cause and effect relationship between pot use and violent acts. Your hypothetical evokes scenes from Reefer Madness, one of the early propaganda movies.
 
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