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The impact of recreational marijuana sales legalization on workplace injuries

Author

Listed:
  • Xiuming Dong

    (Johns Hopkins University)

Abstract

This paper estimates the impact of recreational marijuana sales legalization on workplace injuries. Using restricted-use Workers' Compensation claims as a proxy for injuries and a Difference-in-Differences model, I compare the injury rate before and after sales legalization for high recreational marijuana exposure counties to the same difference for low exposure counties in Oregon. My estimates suggest sales legalization increases workplace injuries. The event study result suggests the medium-term effects appear to equal the short-term effects. Finally, the effect is strongest for: young workers; male workers; construction and transportation occupations; and the increase in the injuries is mainly due to falling.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiuming Dong, 2022. "The impact of recreational marijuana sales legalization on workplace injuries," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 42(3), pages 1331-1339.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-22-00157
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert L. Ohsfeldt & Michael A. Morrisey, 1997. "Beer Taxes, Workers' Compensation, And Industrial Injury," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 79(1), pages 155-160, February.
    2. D. Mark Anderson & Daniel I. Rees, 2014. "The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely Is the Worst‐Case Scenario?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 221-232, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    recreational marijuana; marijuana legalization; workplace injuries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor

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