Marijuana: The "Gateway to Homicide" and Crime

Colorado district attorney Dan May turned heads recently pronouncing marijuana to be a "gateway drug to homicide." Marijuana business owners and their political support groups were quick denounce his words as he adds his name to a growing list of legal and law enforcement officials speaking out against the dangers of pot. 

Colorado District Attorney Dan May

“Marijuana is the gateway drug to homicide in our community and across our state, and people need to start recognizing that.”

Colorado Springs had 22 homicides in 2016, and eight were directly tied to marijuana. 

Denver District Attorney DA recieved similar flack from pro pot lobbyists when he sent a letter to California warning them about pot legalization in Colorado. In the letter he stated:

Denver DA Mitch Morrissey

“In the city of Denver since the legalization of recreational marijuana the number of crimes in Denver has grown by about 44%, according to annual figures the city reported to the National Incident-Based Reporting System. In 2015 in Denver alone crime rose in every neighborhood in the city.”

His statements are backed up by more recent reports showing that crime in Colorado has risen in every single category contrary to the promise by the pro pot lobbyists that it would actually go down after legalization. A similar hollow promise of the pot lobby was that legalization would free up law enforcement. Former Denver DA Mitch Morrissey indicated that has also proven to be untrue. 

"During this period of time our crime rates have gone up, and our cops have been more busy on marijuana-related crimes than any time in the history of this city,"

There words are extremely timely. Just this last week a man was almost beaten to death after he asked a group of individuals to not smoke pot on the train and to wait until they got to the next stop. Then a young women spat in his face and a group of 5-7 individuals proceeded to beat him. The fight spilled out onto the platform where the victim (Kenenan Jones) is beaten until he is left motionless on the ground. 

The group then piles back onto a train and continues their ride. 

Those that are close to law enforcement and the legal system know all to well that marijuana use and abuse is associated with an increase in crime. It is time for the rest of us to understand that.