The heterogeneous effect of marijuana decriminalization policy on arrest rates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2009-2018

Nguyen K Tran; Neal D Goldstein; Jonathan Purtle; Philip M Massey; Stephen E Lankenau; Joanna S Suder; Loni P Tabb

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108058

The heterogeneous effect of marijuana decriminalization policy on arrest rates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2009-2018

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Jul 1:212:108058. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108058. Epub 2020 May 15.

Authors

Nguyen K Tran¹, Neal D Goldstein², Jonathan Purtle³, Philip M Massey⁴, Stephen E Lankenau⁴, Joanna S Suder⁵, Loni P Tabb³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3215 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States. Electronic address: nt448@drexel.edu.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3215 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States.
³ Department of Health Management and Policy, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
⁴ Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
⁵ Civil Division, Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington, DE, United States.

PMID: 32442749
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108058

Abstract

Background: Marijuana decriminalization holds potential to reduce health inequities. However, limited attention has focused on assessing the impact of decriminalization policies across different populations. This study aims to determine the differential effect of a marijuana decriminalization policy change in Philadelphia, PA on marijuana arrests by demographic characteristics.

Methods: Using a comparative interrupted time series design, we assessed whether the onset of marijuana decriminalization in Philadelphia County was associated with reduction in arrests rates from 2009 to 2018 compared to Dauphin County. Stratified models were used to describe the differential impact of decriminalization across different demographic populations.

Results: Compared to Dauphin, the mean arrest rate for all marijuana-related crimes in Philadelphia declined by 19.9 per 100,000 residents (34.9% reduction), 17.1 per 100,000 residents (43.1% reduction) for possession, and 2.8 per 100,000 resident (15.9% reduction) for sales/manufacturing. Arrest rates also differed by demographic characteristics post-decriminalization. Notably, African Americans had a greater absolute/relative reduction in possession-based arrests than Whites. However, relative reductions for sales/manufacturing-based arrests was nearly 3 times lower for African Americans. Males had greater absolute/relative reduction for possession-based arrests, but lower relative reduction for sales/manufacturing-based arrests compared to females. There were no substantial absolute differences by age; however, youths (vs. adults) experienced higher relative reduction in arrest rates.

Conclusions: Findings suggest an absolute/relative reduction for possession-based arrests post-decriminalization; however, relative disparities in sales/manufacturing-based arrests, specifically for African Americans, increased. More consideration towards the heterogeneous effect of marijuana decriminalization are needed given the unintended harmful effects of arrest on already vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Arrest disparity; Health inequity; Marijuana decriminalization.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cannabis
Crime / legislation & jurisprudence*
Crime / trends
Female
Humans
Interrupted Time Series Analysis / methods*
Interrupted Time Series Analysis / trends
Law Enforcement / methods*
Male
Marijuana Use / legislation & jurisprudence*
Philadelphia / epidemiology
Vulnerable Populations*