If a hypothesis states that legalized marijuana leads to higher crime rates, which is the dependent variable?

a- crime rates

b- marijuana

c- legalization

d- incarceration

a- Crime Rates

Explanation:

A dependent variable refers to a result whose change is being studied and is affected by the independent variable whose change doesn't depend on something else. As the statement says that marijuana leads to higher crime rates, the crime rates are the dependent variable as the variation of these rates is affected by the legalized marijuana.