Researchers retract report tying crime to closures of pot dispensaries

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A nonprofit think tank on Monday retracted a widely reported study that linked last year's closing of hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles to a rise in crime rates in surrounding neighborhoods.

Santa Monica-based Rand Corp. said in a statement that questions raised after the study was released last month prompted an internal review.

Researchers relied on a commercial crime mapping service, thinking it included information from various jurisdictions, including the Los Angeles Police Department. But that agency did not give data to the service.

"That review determined the crime data used in the analysis are insufficient to answer the questions targeted by the study," the statement read.

"The city attorney's office believes that retracting the study was the right thing for Rand to do and we are pleased they were receptive to our concerns regarding the study's flaws," city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan said.