Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Daniel Borbely
Author-Name-First: Daniel
Author-Name-Last: Borbely
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde
Author-Name: Otto Lenhart
Author-Name-First: Otto
Author-Name-Last: Lenhart
Author-Email: otto.lenhart@strath.ac.uk
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde
Author-Name: Jonathan Norris
Author-Name-First: Jonathan
Author-Name-Last: Norris
Author-Email: jonathan.norris@strath.ac.uk
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde
Author-Name: Agnese Romiti
Author-Name-First: Agnese
Author-Name-Last: Romiti
Author-Email: agnese.romiti@strath.ac.uk
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde
Title: Marijuana Legalization and Mental Health
Abstract: This study examines the effects of marijuana legalization on mental health.
We use a difference-in-differences approach that leverages the staggered implementation of both medical and recreational marijuana legislation across
U.S. states. We find that marijuana laws have a positive effect on marijuana
use but have no effect on mental health overall. Nonetheless, null aggregate
effects mask sharp heterogeneities across the age distribution. We show that
elderly individuals, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, benefit from medical marijuana legalization in terms of better mental health,
whereas legalizing recreational marijuana produces the opposite effect for
younger individuals, especially if relatively healthy.

Length:  pages
Creation-Date: 2023-03
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status: Published
File-URL: https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/economics/research/researchdiscussionpapers/Marijuana_Legalization_and_Mental_Health.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Number: 2302
Classification-JEL: I18, I10, K32
Keywords: marijuana legalization, recreational marijuana, medical marijuana, mental health
Handle: RePEc:str:wpaper:2302