The legalisation of medical marijuana does not lead to increased crime and may even lead to lower rates of murder and assault, according to new research.
Researchers studied crime rates in all 50 states in the United States between 1990 and 2006, during which 11 states legalised marijuana for medical use. FBI data showed that rates of murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, larceny and auto theft didn’t increase in any of the states which had legalised the drug.
The researchers say the results will be useful in providing a level playing field in the debate on marijuana legalisation.
Read more at University of Texas, Dallas