FBI data reveals that criminal violence has declined since legalization in Washington State

In the United States, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is known for his war on drugs and his threats to States that have legalized medical and/or recreational cannabis. For example, he associates cannabis use with the violent crimes that have been perpetrated in Washington State in recent months, fueling the opposing camp's concerns about this week's report of the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, which links the cannabis industry to criminal violence. The Attorney General had requested this report by July 27.

What's more, according to the American newspaper The News Tribune, Current FBI crime statistics contradict government claims that legal cannabis increases violence.

A clear drop in criminal violence

Washington State legalized cannabis in 2012 and criminal violence has dropped. In 2011, when recreational cannabis was still not legal, the FBI reported 295.6 violent crimes on a panel of 100,000 Washington state residents. By 2015, the figure had shrunk to 284.4 violent crimes.

These data add to those from the Washington State Sheriffs' and Police Chiefs' Association, which still haven't recorded any significant increase. According to these reports, in 2012, there were 3.6 violent offenses per 1,000 state residents. In 2016, the state's violent crime rate decreased to 3.3 offenses.

Mitch Barker, the association's executive director, remains doubtful. He said: «In Washington State, it would be difficult to correlate violent crime with cannabis use. I find it hard to believe that legalization is related to these crimes. Someone should enlighten me further on the subject.»

Washington State Republican Senator Ann Rivers recounted, «I didn't vote for the initiative in the first place. But this revenue (from cannabis sales), it doesn't come from people who woke up one day and said, »Oh, it's legal now, I think I'll go buy some.‘ Most of the revenue comes from people who used to support El Chapo or whoever’.

The Senator also announced that Washington State expects to receive $730 million in tax revenue from cannabis sales over the next two years.

Legalization may not be responsible for the drop in violent crime, but it certainly hasn't increased it.

Mehdi Bautier