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Geographical access to recreational marijuana
Author(s) -
Ambrose Christopher A.,
Cowan Benjamin W.,
Rosenman Robert E.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
contemporary economic policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.454
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1465-7287
pISSN - 1074-3529
DOI - 10.1111/coep.12518
Subject(s) - recreation , marijuana smoking , business , geography , economics , medicine , substance use , political science , law , clinical psychology , polysubstance dependence
We investigate whether adult marijuana use in Washington responds to increased local access as measured by drive time to the nearest legal marijuana retailer as well as measures of retail density. Using survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we find that as retailers open closer to where they live, more individuals use marijuana and more frequently. These effects are concentrated among young adults (ages 18–26), women, and rural residents. Controlling for distance to the nearest retailer, we find that whether retail density affects marijuana use depends on how it is measured.