Association of Cannabis Legalization and Decriminalization With Arrest Rates of Youths

Rosanna Smart, PhD¹; Mark A. R. Kleiman, PhD^2,3

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JAMA Pediatr. Published online June 17, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1521

Original Investigation Youth and Adult Arrests for Cannabis Possession After Decriminalization and Legalization of Cannabis

Andrew D. Plunk, PhD, MPH; Stephanie L. Peglow, DO; Paul T. Harrell, PhD; Richard A. Grucza, PhD

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In this issue of JAMA Pediatrics, a study by Plunk et al¹ using evidence from 4 states that legalized cannabis and 7 states that decriminalized cannabis found that legalization of cannabis significantly reduces arrests for possession of cannabis for adults but not for minors. In contrast, decriminalization policies lead to significantly lower rates of arrest for possession of cannabis (on the order of –75%) for both age groups. Although this result is perhaps unsurprising, it stands in contrast to prior work.²

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Adolescent Medicine Pediatrics Substance Use and Addiction