The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Laws on Social Security Disability Insurance and Workers' Compensation Benefit Claiming

Johanna Maclean, Lauren Nicholas and Keshar Ghimire

Working Papers from eSocialSciences

Abstract: The authors study the effect of state medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Workers' Compensation (WC) claiming. The paper uses data on benefit claiming drawn from the 1990 to 2013 Current Population Survey coupled with a differences-indifferences design. It finds that passage of an MML increases SSDI, but not WC, claiming on both the intensive and extensive margins. Post-MML the propensity to claim SSDI increases by 0.27 percentage points (9.9%) and SSDI benefits increase by 2.6%. The paper identifies heterogeneity by age and the manner in which states regulate medical marijuana. The findings suggest an unintended consequence of MMLs: increased reliance on costly social insurance programs among working age adults

Keywords: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); Workers’ Compensation (WC); public health insurance programs; medical marijuana laws (MMLs); social insurance programs; health conditions; health care providers; medical treatment; sick leave; disability insurance. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-09
Note: Institutional Papers
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