MJ use in late adolescence and its affect on delinquency and crime
- Presenter:
Chair: Rosalie Pacula; Discussant: Sara Markowitz Wed June 7, 2006 9:45-11:15 Room 309
Despite small declines in recent years, marijuana use remains high, particularly among adolescents for whom marijuana is the “drug of choice”. Unlike other illicit drugs, whether marijuana use generates crime remains fiercely debated as the criminogenic effects of marijuana have not been definitively determined. In this study, we use data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions to explore the effects of adolescent marijuana use on a range of delinquency and criminal activities. After controlling for the endogeneity of marijuana use in all specifications, we find strong evidence that various measures of marijuana consumption are related both to delinquency and criminal activity. These results have interesting policy and public health implications regarding marijuana use during adolescence.
