August 26, 2009 – There’s a lot of concern from citizens far removed from the medical marijuana movement regarding crime associated with new changes in the law. After over 70 years of misinformation and propaganda it’s no wonder confusion is so rampant.

With the exception of a few dispensaries being robbed, there have been no noticeable increases in crime near dispensaries. The simple fact that dispensaries have existed for such a short period in history also makes it very difficult to associate any increase in crime with dispensaries. Additionally, sources like CNN have released stories this year about the possibility of an increase in crime in large cities being associated with the economy.

The theory that dispensaries cause crime leaves to question all the areas in the country with an increase in crime, but without any medical marijuana dispensaries. Unless a dispensary is directly involved in some sort of criminal activity it is impossible to say if crime increased in any area solely due to the dispensary.

Let’s take the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report. According to the data, the western area of the United States saw the greatest decrease in murders, and came in second to the mid-west in greatest decrease in violent crimes, aggravated assaults, and larceny.

Given the fact that the majority of the western states (CA, OR, WA, MT, NV, NM, and CO) in the country have legalized medical marijuana, it seems if legalizing medical marijuana causes crime there would be an increase in these crimes, not a decrease. More importantly, this area shouldn’t be the part of the country with the greatest decline if medical marijuana causes crime.

Since California has had legalized medical marijuana the longest, the data for this state was run through the Angela Macdonald number cruncher. Here are the shifts in some of the larger cities in California from 2007 to 2008:

Anaheim
Violent Crime: (-7.8%) Robbery: (-1.38%) Aggravated Assault: (-11.52%)
Property Crime: (-5.31%) Burglary: (-12.21%) Larceny: (-1.09%) Vehicle Theft: (-14.26%)

Bakersfield
Violent Crime: (5.92%) Robbery: (12.56%) Aggravated Assault: (1.57%)
Property Crime: (.64%) Burglary: (17.84%) Larceny: (-3.83%) Vehicle Theft: (-5.7%)

Chula Vista
Violent Crime: (-9.66%) Robbery: (-18.94%) Aggravated Assault: (-2.17%)
Property Crime: (-10.51%) Burglary: (-7.78%) Larceny: (-11.9%) Vehicle Theft: (-9.56%)

Fremont
Violent Crime: (-5.12%) Robbery: (0%) Aggravated Assault: (-8.98%)
Property Crime: (-5.41%) Burglary: (-15.09%) Larceny: (-0.29%) Vehicle Theft: (-9.83%)

Fresno
Violent Crime: (-8.58%) Robbery: (-10.87%) Aggravated Assault: (-6.15%)
Property Crime: (5.18%) Burglary: (7.08%) Larceny: (8.10%) Vehicle Theft: (-6.11%)

Irvine
Violent Crime: (-9.79%) Robbery: (22.73%) Aggravated Assault: (-26.32%)
Property Crime: (-1.38%) Burglary: (-29.04%) Larceny: (6.32%) Vehicle Theft: (-5.58%)

Long Beach
Violent Crime: (-7.82%) Robbery: (-1.26%) Aggravated Assault: (-13.16%)
Property Crime: (0.09%) Burglary: (6.02%) Larceny: (-2.43%) Vehicle Theft: (0.42%)

Los Angeles
Violent Crime: (-4.51%) Robbery: (-0.44%) Aggravated Assault: (-8.73%)
Property Crime: (-0.63%) Burglary: (0.49%) Larceny: (0.29%) Vehicle Theft: (-3.83%)

Modesto
Violent Crime: (-3.42%) Robbery: (-5.09%) Aggravated Assault: (-3.64%)
Property Crime: (-9.61%) Burglary: (7.99%) Larceny: (-10.65%) Vehicle Theft: (-25.31%)

Oakland
Violent Crime: (3.94%) Robbery: (-4.24%) Aggravated Assault: (11.11%)
Property Crime: (-9.2%) Burglary: (-5.36%) Larceny: (-0.44%) Vehicle Theft: (-18.89%)

Riverside
Violent Crime: (1.53%) Robbery: (5.83%) Aggravated Assault: (-3.26%)
Property Crime: (-0.85%) Burglary: (-0.85%) Larceny: (2.1%) Vehicle Theft: (-12.19%)

Sacramento
Violent Crime: (-9.13%) Robbery: (-12.34%) Aggravated Assault: (-6.91%)
Property Crime: (-7.79%) Burglary: (-3.8%) Larceny: (-4.12%) Vehicle Theft: (-19.15%)

San Bernardino
Violent Crime: (-3.53%) Robbery: (-9.63%) Aggravated Assault: (2.48%)
Property Crime: (-6.46%) Burglary: (4.04%) Larceny: (-5.32%) Vehicle Theft: (-17.4%)

San Diego
Violent Crime: (-4.5%) Robbery: (-3.63%) Aggravated Assault: (-7.34%)
Property Crime: (-8.61%) Burglary: (0.83%) Larceny: (-5.67%) Vehicle Theft: (-19.26%)

San Jose
Violent Crime: (-3.09%) Robbery: (5.24%) Aggravated Assault: (-7.09%)
Property Crime: (-7.33%) Burglary: (-22.30%) Larceny: (3.12%) Vehicle Theft: (-18.46%)

Santa Ana
Violent Crime: (-11.35%) Robbery: (8.09%) Aggravated Assault: (-27.04%)
Property Crime: (-10.48%) Burglary: (8.29%) Larceny: (-7.17%) Vehicle Theft: (-26.9%)

Stockton
Violent Crime: (2.51%) Robbery: (-3.53%) Aggravated Assault: (6.53%)
Property Crime: (-3.87%) Burglary: (7.38%) Larceny: (-5.78%) Vehicle Theft: (-11.97%)

With the exception of the occasional dispensary robbery, there is no evidence to show an increase in crime with direct connection to medical marijuana dispensaries. Even with these robberies in mind, it stands to question why any place is robbed.

After analyzing the numbers, it seems strange that anyone would try to say medical marijuana causes any crime. If anything, the data shows quite the opposite. Logic determines that when a crime is no longer a crime there will be less criminals.

What does it say when the primary reason produced by most of the counties, cities, and towns to support banning dispensaries is completely unfounded? What will the next excuse be?

June 18th, 2009 – ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Caribbean governments are being urged to allow for the cultivation and exportation of marijuana for medical purposes despite it being an illegal drug in all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

People are always talking about the young men on the streets and blocks who are selling marijuana, but what we need to do is to get them involved in agriculture by encouraging them to plant marijuana for the pharmaceutical market, said Amsale Maryam of the Association of Developmental Agencies in Jamaica.

She was contributing to the discussion on Rural Livelihood as part of the Caribbean Regional Civil Society Consultation, which is being used to prepare the People’s Forum communique for the November 27-29 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

She told the meeting that, for instance, the cocoa plant is used for purposes other than the production of cocaine.

By removing the youths from the streets and getting them involve in the cultivating of marijuana, we will not only see a reduction in crime but there will be a reduction in violent activities.

“This is the approach we have to take because marijuana can bring in some serious revenue,” she said, arguing that for too long ” the entire focus has being on the recreational use but its time we get away from that thinking and think beyond, the pharmaceutical industry need marijuana as a major ingredient for medication”.

Barbadian Hermon ‘Bongo’ Lowe said the issue should be placed on the agenda for the CHOGM.

Ganja (marijuana) is and continues to play a role in the development of the Caribbean and this needs to be discussed.

“I believe that once the right approach is adopted, ganja has the potential the change the outlook for the Caribbean. Not only will it help with creating agricultural and other high paying jobs but we can actually create a huge industry out of this.”

Lowe said he has research on the issue and is satisfied that marijuana can bring significant revenue to the region.

“Marijuana is used in the production of many medicines and that is the market we have to target, not those who are using it for recreational use. The pharmaceutical industry is using the marijuana extracts for all kinds of medicines and we can produce that industry with the raw material,”he added.

The Commonwealth Foundation, in collaboration with the Barbados-based Caribbean Policy Development Centre is hosting the three consultations that are geared towards identifying the impact of the economic and financial crises in the Caribbean, as well as to share information on climate change initiatives.

Delegates from the region will also revisit and propose alternatives to the ideological underpinnings of current models of development and to forge current partnerships based on common goals and complimentary resources, the organisers said.

“This consultation is one of the several civil society consultations, seminars and workshops taking place across the Commonwealth in preparation for the Commonwealth People’s Forum which will form an integral part of the November meeting,” said Seth Lartey, Programme Manager of the Commonwealth Foundation. Source.