Crime and the Depenalization of Cannabis Possession: Evidence from a Policing Experiment

S-Tier
Journal: Journal of Political Economy
Year: 2014
Volume: 122
Issue: 5
Pages: 1130 - 1202

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We evaluate the impact on crime of a localized policing experiment that depenalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis in the London borough of Lambeth. We find that depenalization policy caused the police to reallocate effort toward nondrug crime. Despite the overall fall in crime attributable to the policy, we find that the total welfare of local residents likely fell, as measured by house prices. We shed light on what would be the impacts on crime of a citywide depenalization policy by developing and calibrating a structural model of the market for cannabis and crime.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/676932
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24