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Off-label use of recreational cannabis: Acid reflux in Colorado

Author

Listed:
  • Jacqueline M. Doremus

    (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo)

  • Sarah S. Stith

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Jacob M. Vigil

    (University of New Mexico)

Abstract

Medical cannabis access has been shown to affect clinical health outcomes and health care spending. Unlike medical access, which requires a doctor's recommendation for treatment and only applies to the limited conditions approved under the state's medical cannabis program, recreational access makes cannabis available over-the-counter (OTC). This may create additional benefits through off-label cannabis use to treat unlisted conditions, such as acid reflux, which affects two out of three Americans. Using the roll out of recreational dispensaries in Colorado in 2014, we estimate the change in retailers' market share of antacid medications using a difference-in-differences design. Antacid market share decreases after a dispensary enters a county by 0.85 percentage points. Decreases come from histamine receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. Decreased antacid use may occur through direct substitution for OTC antacids, through changes in dietary behaviors that reduce antacid use, or both. More work is needed to disentangle these two effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline M. Doremus & Sarah S. Stith & Jacob M. Vigil, 2020. "Off-label use of recreational cannabis: Acid reflux in Colorado," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(1), pages 338-348.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-19-00461
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    File URL: http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2020/Volume40/EB-20-V40-I1-P30.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Smart, Rosanna & Doremus, Jacqueline, 2023. "The kids aren’t alright: The effects of medical marijuana market size on adolescents," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    2. Ziemowit Bednarek & Jacqueline Doremus & Sarah Stith, 2021. "U.S. Cannabis Laws Projected to Cost Generic and Brand Pharmaceutical Firms Billions," Working Papers 2102, California Polytechnic State University, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cannabis; marijuana; dispensary; retail scanner data; Colorado; health; antacids; GERD; acid reflux;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior

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