A couple of weeks ago, we noted that Rand Corp. had removed a controversial study from its website for reevaluation.  The study purported to show that crime went up after marijuana dispensaries were closed.

Following the reevaluation, Rand has now formally retracted the study.  John Hoeffel has this story in the LAT.

Researchers with the Santa Monica-based think tank used crime data compiled by a firm that collects information from about 1,200 law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, but not the LAPD.

"They made mistakes," said Debra Knopman, a Rand vice president and director of the infrastructure, safety and environment division. "What we're wrestling with is how the mistakes went undetected."

The extraordinary lapse has the esteemed institution closely examining how it reviews its research. The discredited report went through an internal and an external peer review.