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The Liberalization of Cannabis Possession Laws and Birth Outcomes: A State-Level Fixed Effects Analysis, 2003–2019

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Listed:
  • Christie Sennott

    (Purdue University)

  • Sadé L. Lindsay

    (Cornell University)

  • Brian C. Kelly

    (Purdue University)

  • Mike Vuolo

    (The Ohio State University)

Abstract

As states liberalize their cannabis laws, cannabis use has become more widespread among adults across the United States, including pregnant women. As a result, recent research has investigated the potential effects of prenatal cannabis use on child health, with mixed results. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the liberalization of state-level cannabis possession laws and two birth outcomes indicative of child health: birthweight and gestational age. Drawing on 2003–2019 data from CDC WONDER, the American Community Survey, and multiple legal databases, we use fixed effects models to examine how changes in cannabis policies—moving from a misdemeanor to decriminalized to legalized possession—have influenced state-level averages in birthweight and gestational age and percentages of births classified as low birthweight (

Suggested Citation

  • Christie Sennott & Sadé L. Lindsay & Brian C. Kelly & Mike Vuolo, 2022. "The Liberalization of Cannabis Possession Laws and Birth Outcomes: A State-Level Fixed Effects Analysis, 2003–2019," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(4), pages 1809-1829, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:41:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s11113-022-09714-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-022-09714-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rosenberg, T.J. & Garbers, S. & Lipkind, H. & Chiasson, M.A., 2005. "Maternal obesity and diabetes as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: Differences among 4 racial/ethnic groups," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(9), pages 1545-1551.
    2. Keith Kranker & Sarah Bardin & Dara Lee Luca & So O’Neil, 2020. "Estimating the incidence of unintended births and pregnancies at the sub-state level to inform program design," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Kara R. Skelton & Amelie A. Hecht & Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon, 2020. "Recreational Cannabis Legalization in the US and Maternal Use during the Preconception, Prenatal, and Postpartum Periods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-11, February.
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