The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Police in Colorado

• Published date: 01 December 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/07340168221124454
• Author: Brian Iannacchione,Kyle C. Ward
• Date: 01 December 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

The Impact of Marijuana

Legalization on Police in

Colorado

Brian Iannacchione

1

and Kyle C. Ward

1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to survey a random sample of police departments in Colorado to

assess their views on the impact of marijuana legalization in the state. While police perceptions

have been used in prior research to assess other topics, very few studies have assessed police per-

ceptions of marijuana legalization. To address this, police off‌icers and sheriff deputies at 64 randomly

selected police departments across Colorado were administered surveys that assessed the impact

marijuana has had on enforcement and their personal perceptions of marijuana. In addition, quali-

tative questions were asked to explore these topics in greater detail. The f‌indings of the 131 respon-

dents suggest that most police off‌icers in Colorado are slightly supportive of legalization, but have

noted that it has made their job more diff‌icult.

Keywords

marijuana legalization, police perceptions, Colorado

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to survey a random sample of police departments in Colorado to assess

their views on the impact of marijuana legalization in the state. During the eight years since the legal-

ization of marijuana in Colorado, there has been a dearth in the literature that assesses the perceptions

of police off‌icers on the impact of marijuana legalization. While there have been studies on police

perceptions regarding use of force (Phillips & Sobol, 2011), community policing (Stein &

Griff‌ith, 2015), human traff‌icking (Farrell et al., 2015), and even the impact of broadband technology

(Carter & Grommon, 2017), very little has been done to assess police perceptions of marijuana legal-

ization. This is unfortunate, as prior research has concluded that police attitudes can impact enforce-

ment strategies in other areas of policing, such as gender and policing practices (Carlan, 2009;

Poteveva & Sun, 2009), cultural differences (Sun & Chu, 2008), and the handling of rape cases

(Brown, 1998; Campbell & Johnson, 1997; Page, 2007; 2008). It would stand to reason, then,

that policymakers should assess police attitudes toward the growing trend of marijuana legalization.

1

Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA

Corresponding Author:

Brian Iannacchione, Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Northern Colorado, Candelaria Hall 2249A,

Campus Box 147, Greeley, CO 80639, USA.

Email: Brian.iannacchione@unco.edu

Article

Criminal Justice Review

2023, Vol. 48(4) 515-531

© 2022 Georgia State University

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/07340168221124454

journals.sagepub.com/home/cjr

However, as Petrocelli et al. (2014) articulated, there have been very few studies that have measured

police perceptions of drug enforcement. In fact, Petrocelli et al. (2014) found only three, measuring

attitudes relating to heroin policies (Beyer, Crofts, & Reid, 2002 ), needle exchange programs

(Beletsky, Macalino, & Burris, 2005), and drug enforcement policy (Moore & Palmiotto, 1997). While

these studies address crucial topics in law enforcement, they do not directly assess police off‌icer opinions

toward legalization. Measuring police attitudes is important for several reasons. First, as Petrocelli et al.

(2014) argued, failing to measure police off‌icer attitudes with regard to drug enforcement omits information

they can provide that could inf‌luence strategies for drug enforcement. This matters, as their perceptions

inf‌luence “front line enforcement and discretion”(Petrocelli et al., 2014, p. 23). In addition, Goetschel

and Peha (2017), in their work on police perceptions of body-worn cameras, highlighted the need for mea-

suring police perceptions. They argued that police are stakeholders in the implementation of a newpolicy.

As such, their opinions can affect decision-making, resource allocation, andexecution. It stands to

reason, then, that police off‌icers in Colorado may want their voices to be heard when informing

policy on how to handle marijuana-related issues. Police in Colorado may be noticing

legalization-related issues that are not being discussed or addressed. A way to f‌ill these policy

gaps is to measure the perceptions of those on the front line. We also hope to assess perceptions

between three types of police departments –municipal, sheriffs, and university. Policy may need

to vary between these differing departments as well. Finally, it is advantageous to assess crime

concerns among police with the legalization of marijuana. Previous studies have found that

they are concerned about drug traff‌icking (Licate, 2016) and marijuana-impaired driving

(Lovrich et al., 2016). However, Maier et al. (2017) found in states that have legalized medical

or recreational marijuana (or both), rates of property and violent crime have not increased. This

research, then, can offer a comparison of the perception of police off‌icers in regard to the

impact of legalization on crime and the reality of it. The purpose of this study, then, is to

answer the following questions:

•Has legalization of recreational marijuana affected law enforcement duties between police

department types?

•What factors inf‌luence off‌icer’s perceptions of the impact marijuana legalization has had on

enforcement?

Specif‌ically, a survey instrument adapted from one used by Ward et al. (2018) to assess off‌icer per-

ceptions of marijuana legalization in the state of Colorado was administered to municipal police,

college police, and sheriff’s departments across Colorado.

Literature Review

Marijuana Legalization in Colorado

While medical marijuana was legal in Colorado since 2000 with the passing of Amendment 20, it was

not until 2012 when recreational marijuana was legalized. “An Act to Regulate Marijuana Like

Alcohol,”or Amendment 64, which passes with 55% of the vote, removed all criminal penalties

for those who possessed less than one ounce of the substance (Blake & Finlaw, 2014; Kamin,

2013). In addition, it permitted individuals to cultivate no more than six plants. They could also

give away, with no payment required, no more than an ounce (Kamin, 2013). Further, and

perhaps most signif‌icantly, it urged the state legislatures to pass proper legislation for the regulation

of retail sale (Kamin, 2013). Pardo (2014) also noted that it made it a requirement that the Colorado

Department of Revenue both license and regulate this industry.

516 Criminal Justice Review 48(4)