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Why do some people want to legalize cannabis use?

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  • van Ours, Jan C.
  • Grossman, Michael
  • Williams, Jenny

Abstract

Preferences and attitudes to illicit drug policy held by individuals are likely to be an important influence in the development of illicit drug policy. Amongst the key factors impacting on an individual?s preferences over substance use policy are their beliefs about the costs and benefits of drug use, their own drug use history, and the extent of drug use amongst their peers. We use data from the Australian National Drug Strategy's Household Surveys to study these preferences. We find that current use and past use of cannabis are a major determinants of being in favor of legalization. We also find that cannabis users are more in favor of legalization the longer they have used cannabis and, among past users, the more recent their own drug using experience. This may be reflecting the fact that experience with cannabis provides information about the costs and benefits of using this substance. We also find some evidence that peers use of cannabis impacts on preferences towards legalization.

Suggested Citation

  • van Ours, Jan C. & Grossman, Michael & Williams, Jenny, 2011. "Why do some people want to legalize cannabis use?," CEPR Discussion Papers 8228, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:8228
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    Cited by:

    1. van Ours, J.C., 2011. "The Long and Winding Road to Cannabis Legalization," Discussion Paper 2011-126, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    2. Stella M. Resko, 2014. "Public Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Adolescent Marijuana Use," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(1), pages 21582440135, January.
    3. Jenny Williams & Jan C. van Ours & Michael Grossman, 2016. "Attitudes to legalizing cannabis use," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(9), pages 1201-1216, September.
    4. Muhammad Salar Khan & Paul N. Thompson & Victor J. Tremblay, 2020. "Marijuana tax incidence, stockpiling, and cross-border substitution," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(1), pages 103-127, February.
    5. Benjamin Hansen & Keaton Miller & Caroline Weber, 2017. "Getting into the Weeds of Tax Invariance," NBER Working Papers 23632, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Palali, Ali, 2015. "Essays in health economics and labor economics," Other publications TiSEM 1116554e-6ca0-4a66-a36f-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cannabis use; Drugs policy;

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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