Citation

Wen H, Hockenberry JM, Cummings JR. J. Health Econ. 2015; 42: 64-80.

Affiliation

Emory University, Department of Health Policy and Management, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States. Electronic address: jrcummi@emory.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.03.007

PMID

25863001

Abstract

We estimate the effect of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) in ten states between 2004 and 2012 on adolescent and adult use of marijuana, alcohol, and other psychoactive substances. We find increases in the probability of current marijuana use, regular marijuana use and marijuana abuse/dependence among those aged 21 or above. We also find an increase in marijuana use initiation among those aged 12-20. For those aged 21 or above, MMLs further increase the frequency of binge drinking. MMLs have no discernible impact on drinking behavior for those aged 12-20, or the use of other psychoactive substances in either age group.

Language: en