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Medical Cannabis Availability and Mental Health: Evidence from New York's Medical Cannabis Program

Author

Listed:
  • Drake, Coleman

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Nagy, Dylan

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Slusky, David

    (University of Kansas)

  • Eisenberg, Matthew

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

Abstract

Evidence on cannabis legalization's effects on mental health remains scarce, despite both rapid increases in cannabis use and an ongoing mental health crisis in the United States. We use granular geographic data to estimate medical cannabis dispensary availability's effects on self-reported mental health in New York state from 2011 through 2021 using a two-stage difference-in-differences approach to minimize bias introduced from the staggered opening of dispensaries. Our findings rule out that medical cannabis availability had negative effects on mental health for the adult population overall. We also find that medical cannabis availability reduced past-month self-reported poor mental health days by nearly 10%—3.37 percentage points—among adults 65 and above. These results suggest medical cannabis access has positive health impacts for older populations, likely through pain relief.

Suggested Citation

  • Drake, Coleman & Nagy, Dylan & Slusky, David & Eisenberg, Matthew, 2024. "Medical Cannabis Availability and Mental Health: Evidence from New York's Medical Cannabis Program," IZA Discussion Papers 17022, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17022
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gregory Conyers & Ian Ayres, 2020. "A lottery test of the effect of dispensaries on emergency room visits in Arizona," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(8), pages 854-864, August.
    2. Lauren Hersch Nicholas & Johanna Catherine Maclean, 2019. "The Effect of Medical Marijuana Laws on the Health and Labor Supply of Older Adults: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(2), pages 455-480, March.
    3. Starrett, David A., 1974. "Principles of optimal location in a large homogeneous area," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 418-448, December.
    4. Finn McGuire & Noemi Kreif & Peter C. Smith, 2021. "The effect of distance on maternal institutional delivery choice: Evidence from Malawi," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(9), pages 2144-2167, September.
    5. Alex Hollingsworth & Coady Wing & Ashley C. Bradford, 2022. "Comparative Effects of Recreational and Medical Marijuana Laws on Drug Use among Adults and Adolescents," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(3), pages 515-554.
    6. Ashley C. Bradford & W. David Bradford, 2018. "The Impact of Medical Cannabis Legalization on Prescription Medication Use and Costs under Medicare Part D," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61(3), pages 461-487.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cannabis; mental health;

    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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