Recreational cannabis legalization has sharply reduced marijuana-related arrests across the United States, but racial disparities in enforcement remain deeply entrenched, according to a new national study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.
The study, published May 1 in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, examined data from 11 states over a 13-year period and found substantial declines in cannabis possession and sales arrests following legalization. Researchers said the findings represent the most comprehensive national analysis yet on how legalization impacts racial disparities in policing and incarceration.
Arrests for cannabis possession dropped 62% among white individuals and 51% among Black individuals after legalization took effect, according to the study. Cannabis sales arrests also declined significantly, falling 44% for white individuals and 49% for Black individuals.
Despite the reductions, researchers found Black Americans remained disproportionately more likely to be arrested for cannabis-related offenses than white Americans both before and after legalization.
“Legalization reduced the overall volume of arrests, but it did not change the relative differences in arrests between racial groups,” the researchers wrote.
The study was led by Angélica Meinhofer, assistant professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine, in collaboration with researchers from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and the University of Texas at Austin.
Researchers also identified broader effects tied to legalization. Arrests related to selling other illegal drugs declined 22% for white individuals and 17% for Black individuals, suggesting changes in policing priorities or shifts within illicit drug markets.
However, prison admissions for drug offenses only declined among white individuals, dropping 34%, while rates for Black individuals remained largely unchanged.
The study also examined concerns that legalization could lead to increases in violent crime or property crime. Researchers found no significant increases in arrests tied to offenses such as assault, robbery or burglary. Homicide rates among Black individuals actually appeared to decline, driven primarily by fewer gun-related deaths.
Researchers did identify public health concerns tied to legalization. Hospitalizations related to cannabis use disorder and cannabis poisoning increased among both racial groups. Hospitalizations connected to other drug use also increased among Black individuals.
The authors said legalization alone is not enough to undo decades of unequal enforcement and called for broader reforms, including expungement of prior convictions, changes to law enforcement incentives and targeted investments in communities disproportionately harmed during the era of cannabis prohibition.
Recreational marijuana is currently legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C., while medical marijuana is permitted in 40 states.
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