State Recreational Cannabis Laws and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

White and Black Americans use cannabis at roughly the same rate, but Blacks are disproportionately arrested and incarcerated for drug offenses. The legalization of cannabis may mitigate the damage of cannabis prohibition on racial disparities in the criminal justice system, but few studies have examined the role of Recreational Cannabis Laws (RCLs) on racial and ethnic disparities. Economist Angelica Meinhofer will examine the impact of RCLs on racial and ethnic disparities in law enforcement contact and criminal activity. She will analyze nationally representative administrative data for her study.