Distance to Cannabis Shops and Age of Onset of Cannabis Use |
| |
| Authors: | Ali Palali Jan C. van Ours |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Economics, CentER, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands;2. Department of Economics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia;3. CEPR, London, UK |
| |
| Abstract: | In the Netherlands, cannabis use is quasi‐legalized. Small quantities of cannabis can be bought in cannabis shops. We investigate how the distance to the nearest cannabis shop affects the age of onset of cannabis use. We use a mixed proportional hazard rate framework to take account of observable as well as unobservable characteristics that influence the uptake of cannabis. We find that distance matters. Individuals who grow up within 20km of a cannabis shop have a lower age of onset. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
| |
| Keywords: | cannabis use coffeeshops drug policy |
|
|
