Busting the Myth

A police report dispels the propaganda about dispensaries

By Kevin Longrie

All across the country, law enforcement agencies make the same claim: dispensaries are magnets for crime. But is that really the case? A situation in Colorado seems to suggest the contrary.

The Denver Police Department recently released a report that concludes—contrary to oft-cited claims—that crime did not increase in areas where medical marijuana dispensaries had opened. The study pertained to the 258 dispensaries in operation in Denver as of March 2010, and examined crime statistics for areas within 1,000 feet of licensed locations. In most instances, crime rates maintained similar levels from 2009 to 2010. In some cases, they even went down.

So much for the “magnet.”

Drug/narcotics violations dropped 15.2 percent in a year’s time. Since dispensaries were set up, among other reasons, so that MMJ patients can secure their meds safety from authorized, legitimate providers instead of from illegal drug dealers, this statistic is unsurprising. But the effect of collectives on crimes rates in their surrounding areas goes way beyond the drug and narcotics branch of the law. Crime was down 8.2 percent across the board.

This study, which has made some waves in the drug enforcement community, presents a much different view of dispensaries than the one that’s been maintained for years—and is often propagated by local law enforcement.

CULTURE spoke with Chris O’Keefe, an MMJ activist in Denver, about this subject:

Where do you think the misconception that medical marijuana dispensaries increase crime comes from?

This is because of the side effects from the prohibition of cannabis. We see the decades of propaganda and drug war that have placed a sense of fear in society and anything related to cannabis must be a crime. Even if the business is legitimate, then obviously the people who are shopping there are criminals when in fact it’s the complete opposite. [Having previously worked] in the pharmaceutical industry, the amount of pharmacy robberies should be something to mention, and how painkillers come in second on the amount of drug-related issues with cannabis placing first on the list of most common drug-related issues. Though you don’t see anyone rushing to close down your local Walgreens.
Do you think that the release of this Denver report is a significant step to recognizing the falsehood of that claim?

Yes. Any data is good data and it’s better if it’s positive because all the propaganda has stated otherwise, and if you know any thing about cannabis, all of the research shows that there is yet to be anything wrong with this plant.
How does it help you, as a medical marijuana activist, to have statistical evidence of what you’ve been claiming all along?

It’s easier to take a piece of statistical data and explain that than trying to base it off your word or personal profile. Data is information in its raw unbiased form and cannot be doubted unless naïve.
Are you already seeing resistance to this? Is it being dismissed by sectors of the population or politicians?

Well, honestly, we have had resistance from the start. And it was worse once counties could place moratoriums on dispensaries preventing them from legally opening a retail outlet, neglecting patients’ rights and forcing them to go farther to have access to safe medicine. And the politicians are of course always two-faced, claiming they are for people’s rights, but then doing the opposite.

JUST THE FACTS

The Denver Police Department’s report included some surprising numbers. First, it looked at the area within a 1,000-foot buffer around the dispensaries. So, was a massive spike in crime reported? Not quite. Between December 2008 and December 2009, crimes decreased by nearly 4 percent within that area. And how much did crimes decrease by everywhere else? The City and County of Denver reported a 1 percent decrease. They say numbers don’t lie . . .