Does Marijuana Legalization Affect Work Capacity? Evidence from Workers’ Compensation Benefits

The Legalization of Marijuana

The movement to legalize marijuana is a war being waged at the ballot box of many states. The movement is sponsored by a small group attempting to dictate changes in laws surrounding the use, as well as the cultivation and distribution of marijuana. Organizations such as NORML (National Organization for Reformed Marijuana Laws); The Lindesmith Center; and, the Drug Policy Group are pushing the ...

How Does Health Insurance Affect Workers' Compensation Filing?

Workers’ compensation provides insurance against job-related injuries, but as many as half of injured workers choose not to file. A common explanation for this is the existence of private health insurance, an alternative source of health care that may discourage insured workers from taking the time to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, data from the NLSY paint a surprising picture: un...

How Does Expanding Health Insurance Coverage Affect Workers' Compensation Costs?

Wider health insurance coverage for young Americans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reduces their reliance on state workers’ compensation programs when they require emergency care, according to RAND research. The RAND analysis of younger workers, which examined millions of medical records in four populous states, shows that the Affordable Care Act may generate widespread and varying impacts...

Recreational marijuana legalization and college student use: Early evidence☆

We analyze marijuana use by college undergraduates before and after legalization of recreational marijuana. Using survey data from the National College Health Assessment, we show that students at Washington State University experienced a significant increase in marijuana use after legalization. This increase is larger than would be predicted by national trends. The change is strongest among fem...

A Perspective on Marijuana Legalization