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Marijuana legalization and disability claiming

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  • Johanna Catherine Maclean
  • Keshar M. Ghimire
  • Lauren Hersch Nicholas

Abstract

We study the effect of recent legalization of recreational marijuana use laws (RMLs) in the United States on new applications and allowances for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income over the period 2001–2019. We combine administrative caseload data from the Social Security Administration with state policy changes using two‐way fixed‐effects methods. We find that RML adoption increases applications for both benefits. However, there is no change in allowances post‐RML. We provide suggestive evidence that the observed changes in applications post‐RML are driven by increases in marijuana misuse and selective migration, and decreases in unemployment.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Catherine Maclean & Keshar M. Ghimire & Lauren Hersch Nicholas, 2021. "Marijuana legalization and disability claiming," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 453-469, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:30:y:2021:i:2:p:453-469
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4190
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Chris Sampson’s journal round-up for 8th March 2021
      by Chris Sampson in The Academic Health Economists' Blog on 2021-03-08 12:00:01

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    2. Chakraborty Avinandan & Doremus Jacqueline & Stith Sarah, 2021. "The effects of recreational cannabis access on labor markets: evidence from Colorado," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-86, January.
    3. Jason Brown & Elior Cohen & Alison Felix, 2023. "Economic Benefits and Social Costs of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana," Research Working Paper RWP 23-10, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
    4. Shyam Raman & Johanna Catherine Maclean & W. David Bradford & Coleman Drake, 2023. "Recreational cannabis and opioid distribution," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 747-754, April.
    5. Thomas Lebesmuehlbacher & Rhet A. Smith, 2021. "The effect of medical cannabis laws on pharmaceutical marketing to physicians," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(10), pages 2409-2436, September.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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