Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP9944
Authors: Ali Palali; Jan C van Ours
Abstract: 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.
Keywords: cannabis use; opinions on cannabis policy
JEL Codes: C31; I18; K14
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| current cannabis users (I12) | support for legalization (K16) |
| past cannabis users (I12) | support for legalization (K16) |
| current cannabis users (I12) | self-interest (F52) |
| past cannabis users (I12) | inside information (D82) |
| self-interest (F52) | support for legalization (K16) |
| inside information (D82) | support for legalization (K16) |