Maia Szalavitz addresses the canard:
Like previous studies, [a recent study in Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, pdf] found no association between the number of [medical marijuana] dispensaries in a neighborhood and rates of violent crime or property crime. The number of alcohol-selling outlets in an area, however — even after controlling for demographic factors and poverty — is consistently linked with rates of violent crime, according to the research.
Chris Roberts explains how federal-level law enforcement has ignored this fact:
Dispensary-related crime, and instances of this crime near children, are exactly why local United States Attorney Melinda Haag shut some 10 state-legal Bay Area cannabis dispensaries since Oct. 7, 2011. Haag presented no data along with her claims, and a recent study conducted by UCLA researchers won't help her either. Based on crime trends in Sacramento in 2009, the study found "no observed … associations between the density of medical marijuana dispensaries and either violent or property crime rates," and further found that dispensary security measures like door guards and security camera may be crime deterrents.
Meanwhile, Mike Riggs calls out Holder for having "lied" last week to the House Judiciary Committee by claiming that the DOJ has not been prosecuting medical marijuana businesses that are in compliance with state law.
The Dish 