Has Colorado’s Legalized Marijuana Impacted Crime Rates?

In Colorado, medicinal marijuana has been legal for quite some time, but the state only legalized recreational marijuana recently. However, there are still regulations in place regarding its possession and use. For example, driving while impaired by marijuana is much like drunk driving under Denver law. In addition to DUI and DWI charges, a person might require the services of a criminal defense attorney if he or she has been accused of buying, possessing, or selling marijuana to an individual who is under 21 years of age.

For more on how marijuana laws have changed the state, watch this interview with the mayor of Denver. He explains that police have closely monitored crime rates in the areas around medical marijuana dispensaries and other establishments. When only medicinal marijuana was legal, there was an uptick in robberies and intrusions in these areas. However, it’s too soon to tell if the new laws are having any major effects on crime rates.