The Liberalization of Cannabis Possession Laws and Birth Outcomes: A State-Level Fixed Effects Analysis, 2003–2019

Christie Sennott (), Sadé L. Lindsay, Brian C. Kelly and Mike Vuolo
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Christie Sennott: Purdue University
Sadé L. Lindsay: Cornell University
Brian C. Kelly: Purdue University
Mike Vuolo: The Ohio State University

Population Research and Policy Review, 2022, vol. 41, issue 4, No 18, 1809-1829

Abstract: Abstract As states liberalize their cannabis laws, cannabis use has become more widespread among adults across the United States, including pregnant women. As a result, recent research has investigated the potential effects of prenatal cannabis use on child health, with mixed results. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the liberalization of state-level cannabis possession laws and two birth outcomes indicative of child health: birthweight and gestational age. Drawing on 2003–2019 data from CDC WONDER, the American Community Survey, and multiple legal databases, we use fixed effects models to examine how changes in cannabis policies—moving from a misdemeanor to decriminalized to legalized possession—have influenced state-level averages in birthweight and gestational age and percentages of births classified as low birthweight (

Keywords: Cannabis; Policy; Birthweight; Gestational age; Birth; Child Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/s11113-022-09714-6

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