Marijuana Legalization Research Articles

Does Marijuana Legalization Affect Work Capacity? Evidence from Workers’ Compensation Benefits

We study the effect of state recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) on workers’ compensation (WC) benefit receipt among adults 40-62 years. We find that WC receipt declines in response to RML adoption both in terms of the propensity to receive benefits and benefit amount. We estimate complementary declines in non-traumatic workplace injury rates and the incidence of work-limiting disabilities. We offer evidence that the primary driver of these reductions is an improvement in work capacity, likely due to access to an additional form of pain management therapy. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.

Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Use Among California Adolescents: Findings From a Statewide Survey

The legalization of recreational marijuana use and retail sales raises concerns about possible effects on marijuana use among adolescents. We evaluated the effects of recreational marijuana legalization (RML) in California in November 2016 on use among adolescents and investigated subgroup differences in these effects. We analyzed data from successive cross-sectional samples of 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students (N = 3,330,912) who participated in the California Healthy Kids Survey from 2010-2011 to 2018-2019. Participants reported grade, sex, ethnicity, race, and lifetime and past-30-day marijuana use. Multilevel analyses showed that RML was associated with increases in the likelihood of lifetime (odds ratio = 1.18, 95% CI [1.15, 1.21], p < .01) and past-30-day marijuana use (odds ratio = 1.23, 95% CI [1.20, 1.26], p < .01) relative to previous downward trends. RML was more strongly associated with increases in prevalence of marijuana use among 7th versus 9th and 11th graders, females versus males, non-Hispanic versus Hispanic youth, and White versus African American, American Indian/Native Alaskan, and multiracial youth. Overall, RML was not significantly associated with frequency of past-30-day use among users, although stronger positive associations between RML and frequency of use were found for 11th graders, Asian Americans, and African Americans. The association was weaker for females. RML in California was associated with an increase in adolescent marijuana use in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Demographic subgroup differences in these associations were observed. Evidence-based prevention programs and greater local control on retail marijuana sales may help to reduce marijuana availability and use among adolescents.

Cannabis, Consumers, and the Trademark Laundering Trap

At the moment, cannabis companies cannot get trademark protection for their marijuana and marijuana-related products because the “lawful use” doctrine limits federal trademark protection to goods lawfully sold in commerce. Given that the drug remains illegal under federal law, this may not sound like much of a problem, but it has serious consequences for consumers of marijuana. Without trademark rights, a cannabis company in one state can simply use the brand name of a prominent company in another state and consumers will assume that they are getting the products they have come to rely on, with potentially dangerous results. As the cannabis industry has grown, this issue has only become more acute; the current approach of the United States Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) and the federal courts undermines trademark law’s consumer protection and fair competition goals. Several years ago, we proposed a solution to the unavailability of trademark protection during federal prohibition, one we suggested would help cannabis companies and cannabis consumers bridge the gap from the current period of legal ambiguity through full marijuana legalization. We coined the phrase “trademark laundering” to describe the practice of applying for federal trademark protection for a mark placed on legal products and then using that mark on both legal and illegal goods – on both t-shirts and marijuana, for example. As we anticipated, the practice has indeed taken off, but it has been a success only on the surface. This article examines how the PTO and the courts have mishandled marijuana marks and identifies how they have interpreted and deployed the lawful use doctrine in ways that undermine and conflict with trademark’s stated goals. Given that the PTO is unlikely to abandon the lawful use doctrine any time soon, we propose changes to the way the PTO applies that doctrine in the trademark registration process, as well as changes to the courts’ consideration of trademark disputes involving cannabis companies. These changes will ensure that both consumers and marijuana businesses are protected as the United States transitions from marijuana prohibition to a post-prohibition federal regulatory regime.

The Impact of Medical Marijuana Legalization on Opioid Prescriptions

Since the late 1990s, opioids have been increasingly prescribed for pain treatment in the U.S as a result of aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies. This has resulted in more than 450,000 opioid overdose deaths since then. In the same time period, several U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana, a drug that can also be used for pain relief. As a result, medical marijuana can be used as a substitute for opioids, leading to a reduction in opioid prescriptions. On the other hand, marijuana use can lead to increased substance abuse, leading to a potential increase in opioid prescriptions. The lack of scientific and medical knowledge along with the uncertain regulatory environment vis-a-vis medical marijuana use also makes it possible that its legalization has no impact on opioid prescriptions. With claims data from a large health insurance company in the U.S. between 2006 and 2016, we study the effect of medical marijuana legalization on opioid prescriptions, leveraging the temporal variation in state-wise legalization. We find that, on average, opioid prescriptions decreased after medical marijuana legalization for all three outcome metrics that we consider (number of prescriptions, total days of supply, and total dosage in MME). We also find that the role of physicians in reducing opioid prescriptions after legalization is more prominent than their corresponding role in increasing opioid prescriptions.

Domestic Violence and Marijuana: Evidence from Recreational Marijuana Legalization

Domestic Violence and Marijuana: Evidence from Recreational Marijuana Legalization

How State Reforms Have Mellowed Federal Enforcement of Marijuana Prohibition

Modern state medical marijuana laws date back to 1996, when Californians approved the first statewide medical marijuana legalization law via ballot measure; Colorado and Washington voters passed the first ballot initiatives legalizing marijuana for adult use in 2012. By summer 2021, a total of 36 states and 4 U.S. territories had legalized the medical use of marijuana and 18 states, two territories and the District of Columbia had legalized adult use of marijuana. Over this quarter century of state reforms, blanket federal marijuana prohibition has remained the law of the land. Indeed, though federal marijuana policies have long been criticized, federal prohibition has now been in place and unchanged for the last half century. But while federal marijuana law has remained static amidst state-level reforms, federal marijuana prohibition enforcement has actually changed dramatically. In fact, data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) reveals quite remarkable changes in federal enforcement patterns since certain states began fully legalizing marijuana in 2012. This essay seeks to document and examine critically the remarkable decline in the number of federal marijuana sentences imposed over the last decade. While noting that federal sentences imposed for marijuana offenses are down 83% from 2012 to 2020, this essay will also explore how the racial composition of persons sentenced in federal court and has evolved as the caseload has declined. Notably, in 2012, the majority of persons sentenced for marijuana offenses in federal court were Hispanic (66%) followed by white (22%), Black (8%), and other races (3%). But by 2020, though the majority were still Hispanic (62%), the number of persons sentenced for marijuana who were Black had doubled to 18% and white offenders were down to 15% with other races at 5%. These data suggest that whites are benefiting relatively more from fewer federal prosecutions. Reports from the Drug Enforcement Administration indicate that marijuana seizures at the southern US border have dwindled as states have legalized adult use and medicinal use of marijuana, and the reduced trafficking over the southern border likely largely explain the vastly reduced number of federal prosecutions of marijuana offenses. Nonetheless, though still shrinking in relative size, there were still more than one thousand people (and mostly people of color) sentenced in federal court for marijuana trafficking in fiscal year 2020 and over 100 million dollars was committed to the incarceration of these defendants for activities not dissimilar from corporate activity in states in which marijuana has been legalized for various purposes. This essay will reflect upon how state legal reforms have mellowed (but certainly not ended) federal enforcement.

Vaping and Edibles: Self-Reported Usage Patterns Among Teens In and Out of Treatment

Objective This article examines one key aspect of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) Institute’s forthcoming third iteration of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-A3). Overall project aims were to revise the second version of the adolescent SASSI (SASSI-A2), and to update new symptom-related identifiers of substance use disorders in adolescents according to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) guidelines. Methods We added new questions regarding cannabidiol (CBD) edible consumption and the extent of vaping to review and subsequently address these dangers in teens. Identifying these patterns will inevitably direct the course of subsequent clinical interviews and treatment planning. Early intervention is a critical component towards preventing possible negative outcomes for substance misusing teens. Results This aspect of the research demonstrated a connection between a higher acknowledged usage pattern of teens in treatment versus teens not in treatment. Correlations between beliefs associated with marijuana legalization, marijuana usage by family and friends, tobacco use, connection between age at first use, and the onset of regular usage patterns were also shown to be significantly higher among teens in treatment. Conclusions Teens that begin using alcohol, drugs, and tobacco early in adolescence are more likely to engage in vaping and edible usage. They are also more likely to use at a more frequent rate. In addition, teens who are surrounded by family and friends who engage in marijuana use are more likely to be supportive of its recreational use and legalization. This acknowledged information on the SASSI-A3 can help direct treatment planning early in the counseling relationship and provide a gateway for bringing family in the treatment and education process.

Part of the Narrative: Generic News Frames in the U.S. Recreational Marijuana Policy Subsystem

In the growing body of research on policy change and in the relatively new frontier of the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), the components comprising narratives' structure are still under construction. One opportunity for additional research relates to examining the role of frames. This article examines generic news frames used to report on ballot initiatives legalizing recreational marijuana in three states and conceptually orients these frames within NPF. Using a mixed methods analysis, the findings suggest that in the emerging U.S. recreational marijuana legalization policy subsystem, setting helped explain reporters' use of certain generic frames. The findings provide support for the inclusion of generic frames as part of NPF's narrative theory, open up potential for new research designs, and further clarify media's role in the development of policy narratives. From a practical perspective, the analysis contributes insight into how media inform constituents about new marijuana laws.Related ArticlesCrow, Deserai A., Lydia A. Lawhon, John Berggren, Juhi Huda, Elizabeth Koebele, and Adrianne Kroepsch. 2017. “A Narrative Policy Framework Analysis of Wildfire Policy Discussions in two Colorado Communities.” Politics &amp; Policy 45 (4): 626‐656. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12207Fisk, Jonathan M., Joseph A. Vonasek, and Elvis Davis. 2018. “‘Pot’reneurial Politics: The Budgetary Highs and Lows of Recreational Marijuana Policy Innovation.” Politics &amp; Policy 46 (2): 189‐208. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12246O'Donovan, Kristin Taylor. 2018. “Does the Narrative Policy Framework Apply to Local Policy Issues?” Politics &amp; Policy 46 (4): 532‐570. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12265

Neurochemical and Behavioral Characterization after Acute and Repeated Exposure to Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid Agonist 5-MDMB-PICA

Since the early 2000s, herbal mixtures containing synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), broadly known as Spice/K2, have been marketed as a legal marijuana surrogate and have become very popular among adolescents. Adolescence is a critical period of development, which is associated with an increased vulnerability to the central effects of drugs. Despite growing concerns about the negative effects of the use of SCs, newly synthetized compounds are increasingly detected in drugs seized by the authorities, posing a serious threat to public health. 5F-MDMB-PICA has been recently detected and classified as a highly potent agonist of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Here, we first investigated the rewarding properties of 5F-MDMB-PICA in C57BL/6 adolescent and adult mice by in vivo brain microdialysis. Data showed that acute administration of a selected dose of 5F-MDMB-PICA (0.01 mg/kg i.p.) stimulates the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens shell of adolescent, but not of adult, mice. To further investigate the consequences of repeated exposure to this dose of 5F-MDMB-PICA, a separate group of adolescent mice was treated for 14 consecutive days and evaluated for behavioral abnormalities at adulthood, starting from 7 days after drug discontinuation. Data showed that this group of adult mice displayed an anxiety-like and compulsive-like state as revealed by an altered performance in the marble burying test. Our study suggests an alarming vulnerability of adolescent mice to the effects of 5F-MDMB-PICA. These findings provide a useful basis for understanding and evaluating both early and late detrimental effects that may derive from the use of SCs during adolescence.

Attitudes about marijuana use, potential risks, and legalization: a single-center survey of pregnant women

Objective There is an association between recreational marijuana use in pregnancy and legalization. As more states legalize marijuana, its use in pregnancy may increase. The objective of this study was to evaluate pregnant women’s knowledge and opinions about marijuana use, potential risks, and legalization. Methods A cross-sectional survey of pregnant women at a regional perinatal center in New Jersey was performed from January-December 2019. Pregnant subjects were invited to complete a voluntary, anonymous 23-question survey about marijuana use in pregnancy, potential risks, and legalization. Subjects were excluded if they could not read in English or Spanish. Survey questions were based on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 = neutral, 4 = disagree, and 5 = strongly disagree). Likelihood of agreeing or disagreeing with potential risks, with neutral responses as the reference, were estimated based on the relative risk (RR) (95% confidence interval [CI]). Associations were examined with prior tobacco/marijuana use and education level. Results During the study period, approximately 1133 consecutive patients were approached and 843 completed the study (74.4% response rate). The majority of participants were English-speaking, college educated, and employed. 204 (25.2%) reported prior marijuana use and 36 (4.5%) reported marijuana use during pregnancy. Overall, pregnant women had poor knowledge about potential risks of marijuana use in pregnancy. Although 234 (29.0%) patients were opposed to legalization, more than 90% of pregnant subjects indicated that they would be more likely to use marijuana in pregnancy if it were legalized. Associations of marijuana risks by prior tobacco use showed that nonsmokers had more awareness about risks. Nonsmokers had higher likelihood of agreeing that marijuana use may be harmful to a pregnancy (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.12–1.76), may hurt the growth of a baby (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.07–1.74), may cause preterm birth (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00–1.40), and may hurt a child’s ability to learn (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.95–1.51). Similar trends were observed for subjects who reported no prior marijuana use and for subjects with more than high school education. Conclusions The majority of surveyed pregnant women demonstrated poor knowledge about the possible risks of marijuana in pregnancy and indicated that they would be more likely to use marijuana in pregnancy if it were legalized. As the use of marijuana increases, providers should focus on educating their patients about potential risks associated with marijuana use in pregnancy while additional research is needed to clarify associated risks.

Multi-directional pathways of tobacco and marijuana use, including comorbid use, among a population-based cohort of adolescents in Texas: A six-wave cross-lagged model

PurposePast 30-day tobacco and marijuana use commonly occur among adolescents. It is unclear whether use of one product precedes the other, especially given the new climate surrounding marijuana legalization and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes. MethodsSix-panel cross-lagged regression models, with six months between each panel/Wave (2014–17), were used to model stability paths, bi-directional paths, and comorbid paths (i.e., correlations) between past 30-day use of marijuana and tobacco products. Data were derived from three cohorts of adolescents (n = 3907; weighted N = 461,069) in 6th, 8th, and 10th grades at baseline. ResultsFew bidirectional relationships between past 30-day tobacco and marijuana use were observed in early adolescence (6th grade). During the middle adolescence developmental period (8th grade), past 30-day marijuana use was prospectively associated with greater risk of past 30-day tobacco use. In late adolescence (10th grade), increased odds of past 30-day marijuana use given prior past 30-day e-cigarette use, and vice versa, were observed. For all cohorts, stability paths were common, especially for past 30-day marijuana use. Comorbid use was common in middle adolescence (8th grade) but small in magnitude. ConclusionsThis is the first study to longitudinally situate comorbid, past 30-day use of tobacco and marijuana and simultaneously examine bi-directional past 30-day use of these products for adolescents. Marijuana use more often and more strongly predicted subsequent tobacco use than the reverse, especially during middle adolescence (13–15 years old). Marijuana use should be considered when creating interventions that address adolescent e-cigarette use in the U.S.

Drug decriminalization measure in Oregon would not increase treatment funding

Last month, Oregon passed the first statewide drug decriminalization measure in the country, allowing personal‐use possession of illegal drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, The ballot initiative, Measure 110, which was sponsored mainly by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), allows people to either pay a $100 fine or go to an “addiction recovery center” that would be funded by the regulated legal marijuana industry in the state.

Treatment admissions for opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamines among adolescents and emerging adults after legalization of recreational marijuana

BackgroundA public health concern stemming from recreational marijuana legalization (RML) is the idea that marijuana may act as a “gateway” drug among youth and young adults, where growing marijuana use will lead to increasing substance use disorder (SUD) for “harder” illicit drugs. This study investigates whether SUD treatment admissions for cocaine, opioids, and methamphetamines increased following RML enactment in Colorado and Washington for adolescents and emerging adults. MethodsWe entered annual 2008–2017 treatment admissions data from the SAMHSA Treatment Episode Dataset – Admissions (TEDS-A) into difference-in-differences models to investigate whether the difference in treatment admissions for cocaine, opioids, and methamphetamines among adolescents (12–17), early emerging adults (18–20), and late emerging adults (21–24) before versus after RML enactment differed between Colorado and Washington and states without RML. ResultsThere was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between Colorado and Washington and other states in the pre- versus postlegalization trajectories of SUD treatment admissions for cocaine, opioids, or methamphetamines for adolescents (β = −0.152, 95% CI = −0.500, 0.196; β = −0.374, 95% CI = −1.188, 0.439; β = 0.787, 95% CI = −0.511, 2.084, respectively), early emerging adults (β = −0.153, 95% CI = −0.762, 0.455; β = 0.960, 95% CI = −4.771, 6.692; β = 0.406, 95% CI = −2.232, 3.044, respectively) or late emerging adults (β = −0.347, 95% CI = −1.506, 0.812; β = −4.417, 95% CI = −16.264, 7.431; β = 1.804, 95% CI = −2.315, 5.923, respectively). ConclusionRML in Washington and Colorado was not associated with an increase in adolescent or emerging adult SUD treatment admissions for opioids, cocaine, or methamphetamines. Future studies should extend this research to other states, other substances, for older adults, and over longer time periods; and consider how the effects of drug policies may differ across different jurisdictions.

Extending the Harm to Others Paradigm: Comparing Marijuana- and Alcohol-Attributed Harms in Washington State

ABSTRACT Harms attributed to others’ alcohol use have been extensively studied in the US and internationally, but no studies have measured harms from others’ marijuana use. We utilize data from five cross-sectional waves of a survey series with representative samples of Washington state residents conducted every 6 months from 2014 to 2016, after the legalization of adult use marijuana. Harms attributed to others’ drinking and to others’ marijuana use included family and financial problems, assault, harassment, and vandalism experiences, and accidents due to impaired drivers. Past year harms attributed to others’ marijuana use were reported by 8.4% of the sample, while 21.3% reported alcohol-attributed harms and 4.3% experienced both. Women were more likely to experience harms from either substance. While heavy drinkers were most likely to experience alcohol harms from others’ use, frequent marijuana users reported the least harms from others. About three times as many individuals reported harassment, vandalism, or family problems attributed to someone’s alcohol use compared to those harms attributed to someone’s marijuana use, with a smaller ratio seen for financial trouble and a wider ratio for physical harm. Harms attributed to other’s marijuana use in Washington were found to be substantial, but lower than harms from others’ drinking.

Retail Availability of Recreational Marijuana and Alcohol in Oregon Counties and Co-Use of Alcohol and Marijuana and Related Beliefs among Adolescents

Objective: We investigated whether recreational marijuana legalization (RML) in Oregon in 2015 and recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlet density levels in Oregon counties were associated with increased alcohol and marijuana co-use and beliefs supportive of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents. Method: We conducted secondary analyses of biennial data collected from 11th graders who participated in the Student Wellness Survey (SWS) in 36 Oregon counties from 2010 to 2018 (N = 71,870). Multi-level logistic regression analyses assessed changes in past-30-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana, and alcohol- and marijuana-related beliefs after RML in counties with low, medium, and high densities of licensed recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlets. We used post-RML 2016 and 2018 SWS data to examine whether beliefs accounted for any relationship of recreational marijuana and alcohol outlet density with alcohol and marijuana co-use. Results: We found a significant post-RML increase in past-30-day alcohol and marijuana co-use in 2016 in counties with the highest density of recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlets. There were significant post-RML increases in perceived risk and parent approval of alcohol and marijuana use. Analyses with 2016 and 2018 SWS data indicated that the relationship between level of recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlet density and past-30-day alcohol and marijuana co-use was accounted for beliefs about marijuana and alcohol availability, approval by parents, and risk. Conclusion: RML and greater retail availability of recreational marijuana and alcohol were positively associated with alcohol and marijuana co-use among adolescents, and with beliefs favorable to alcohol and marijuana use.

Up in Smoke: The Effect of Marijuana Legalization on Personal Bankruptcy

Marijuana offers a low cost alternative to traditional medical treatment for a variety of health conditions. We use the legalization of medical marijuana in the U.S. to study the effect of a quasi-exogenous reduction in the cost of medical care on personal bankruptcy rates. We find that following legalization, bankruptcy rates decline by approximately 6 percent. Larger declines occur in populations facing higher out-of-pocket medical costs, such as those with high uninsurance rates or those residing in concentrated hospital markets, where medical costs are higher and quality is lower. Consistent with this medical cost channel, we find no effect of legalization on business bankruptcies, and no support for alternative explanations for the reduction in personal bankruptcies, such as an increase in economic activity, a decrease in marijuana-related arrests, or substitution away from other hard drugs following legalization.

Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Adolescent Use of Marijuana, Tobacco, and Alcohol

PurposeGiven the rapid expansion of recreational marijuana legalization (RML) polices, it is essential to assess whether such policies are associated with shifts in the use of marijuana and other substances, particularly for adolescents, who are uniquely susceptible to negative repercussions of marijuana use. This analysis seeks to provide greater generalizability, specificity, and methodological rigor than limited prior evidence. MethodsYouth Risk Behavior Survey data from 47 states from 1999 to 2017 assessed marijuana, alcohol, cigarette, and e-cigarette use among adolescents (14–18+ years; N = 1,077,938). Associations between RML and adolescent past-month substance use were analyzed using quasi-experimental difference-in-differences zero-inflated negative binomial models. ResultsControlling for other state substance policies, year and state fixed effects, and adolescent demographic characteristics, models found that RML was not associated with a significant shift in the likelihood of marijuana use but predicted a small significant decline in the level of marijuana use among users (incidence rate ratio = .844, 95% confidence interval [.720–.989]) and a small increase in the likelihood of any e-cigarette use (odds ratio of zero use = .647, 95% confidence interval [.515–.812]). Patterns did not vary over adolescent age or sex, with minimal differences across racial/ethnic groups. ConclusionsResults suggest minimal short-term effects of RML on adolescent substance use, with small declines in marijuana use and increase in the likelihood of any e-cigarette use. Given the delayed rollout of commercial marijuana sales in RML states and rapid expansion of RML policies, ongoing assessment of the consequences for adolescent substance use and related health and behavioral repercussions is essential.

The effect of public opinion and politics on attitudes towards pill testing: Results from the 2019 Australian Election Study.

Following several deaths due to drug overdoses at music festivals in Australia, pill testing (or drug checking) has been proposed as a means of reducing the risk to young people. However, pill testing is a politically controversial policy in Australia. This paper examines the political dimension to the debate, its relationship with other social issues and how it divides party supporters. The data come from the 2019 Australian Election Study survey-a large (n = 2179), nationally weighted representative probability survey conducted immediately after the federal election. Bivariate and multivariate analyses are used to identify the social groups, attitudes and vote preferences most associated with public views about pill testing. Almost two-thirds of the public support pill testing at music festivals. The young and those who do not attend church are most likely to express support. Supporters of other liberal social opinions, such as the legalisation of marijuana, are also strongly supportive of pill testing. Those who vote for one of the two main conservative parties are less likely to support pill testing. While a majority of the public support pill testing, beyond the Australian Capital Territory this has not translated into policy in other jurisdictions. The results show that there is a high level of political polarisation surrounding opinions among both voters and political elites. This issue must be addressed if the policy is to be advanced as part of an overall harm reduction approach to drug use.

Marijuana Legalization and Household Spending on Food and Alcohol

Utilizing the Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey from 2005 to 2018, I study spending on food and alcohol following recreational marijuana legalization (RML). Exploiting differences in the timing of the passage of RMLs and employing differences-in-differences methods, I find that households located in RML states increase their quarterly spending on food by $67.69, which is driven mainly by spending on food consumed away from home. Legalization of recreational marijuana also leads to increased quarterly spending on alcohol by $11.23. These findings suggest a complementarity between food, alcohol, and marijuana.

Marijuana legalization and disability claiming.

We study the effect of recent legalization of recreational marijuana use laws (RMLs) in the United States on new applications and allowances for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income over the period 2001-2019. We combine administrative caseload data from the Social Security Administration with state policy changes using two-way fixed-effects methods. We find that RML adoption increases applications for both benefits. However, there is no change in allowances post-RML. We provide suggestive evidence that the observed changes in applications post-RML are driven by increases in marijuana misuse and selective migration, and decreases in unemployment.