The effects of perceived quality on behavioral economic demand for marijuana: A web-based experiment.

Background: Given the growing legalization of recreational marijuana use and related increase in its prevalence in the United States, it is important to understand marijuana's appeal. We used a behavioral economic (BE) approach to examine whether the reinforcing properties of marijuana, including "d...

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Published in:Drug & Alcohol Dependence Vol. 170; pp. 174 - 181
Main Authors: Vincent, Paula C., Collins, R. Lorraine, Liu, Liu, Yu, Jihnhee, De Leo, Joseph A., Earleywine, Mitch
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier B.V. Jan2017
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jan2017
      vid: 170
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      pub: Elsevier B.V.
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        atl: The effects of perceived quality on behavioral economic demand for marijuana: A web-based experiment.
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        au:
          Vincent, Paula C.
          Collins, R. Lorraine
          Liu, Liu
          Yu, Jihnhee
          De Leo, Joseph A.
          Earleywine, Mitch
        affil: Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Cannabis
          Smoking Economics
          Business Economics
          Perception
          Internet
          Male
          Female
          Reinforcement (Psychology)
          Young Adult
          Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index
          Scales
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Given the growing legalization of recreational marijuana use and related increase in its prevalence in the United States, it is important to understand marijuana's appeal. We used a behavioral economic (BE) approach to examine whether the reinforcing properties of marijuana, including "demand" for marijuana, varied as a function of its perceived quality.Methods: Using an innovative, Web-based marijuana purchase task (MPT), a sample of 683 young-adult recreational marijuana users made hypothetical purchases of marijuana across three qualities (low, mid and high grade) at nine escalating prices per joint, ranging from $0/free to $20.Results: We used nonlinear mixed effects modeling to conduct demand curve analyses, which produced separate demand indices (e.g., Pmax, elasticity) for each grade of marijuana. Consistent with previous research, as the price of marijuana increased, marijuana users reduced their purchasing. Demand also was sensitive to quality, with users willing to pay more for higher quality/grade marijuana. In regression analyses, demand indices accounted for significant variance in typical marijuana use.Conclusions: This study illustrates the value of applying BE theory to young adult marijuana use. It extends past research by examining how perceived quality affects demand for marijuana and provides support for the validity of a Web-based MPT to examine the appeal of marijuana. Our results have implications for policies to regulate marijuana use, including taxation based on the quality of different marijuana products.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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