DP9944 Cannabis Use and Support for Cannabis Legalization

Author(s):	Ali Palali, Jan C. van Ours
Publication Date:	April 2014
Keyword(s):	cannabis use, opinions on cannabis policy
JEL(s):	c31, i18, k14
Programme Areas:	Public Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=9944

We investigate the determinants of the support for cannabis legalization finding a causal effect of personal experience with cannabis use. Current and past cannabis users are more in favor of legalization. We relate this to self-interest and inside information about potential dangers of cannabis use. While the effects of self-interest are not very surprising, the effect of inside information suggests that cannabis use may not be as harmful as cannabis users originally thought it was and not as harmful as non-users are inclined to think it is.