Legal marijuana leads to more jobs and economic improvements – here’s how

New research has found a link between legal marijuana and increased job opportunities.

The study, conducted by researchers from San Diego State and Bentley University, looked at survey results from 2002 to 2020 to examine the impact of legal marijuana on the economy.

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The analysis, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that legal adult marijuana laws had little impact on labor productivity, an issue that has long bothered anti-proponents of the drug. Instead, the data uncovered evidence of more employment opportunities and rates in the burgeoning industry, particularly among adults over 30.

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Other population groups that were positively impacted were young ethnic minorities and people working in agriculture.

“These findings are consistent with the opening of a new legal industry for marijuana and (particularly for the elderly) substitution away from harder substances such as opioids,” the researchers said.

While the research is related to the issue of productivity and weed, it differed from similar studies in that it focused solely on economic trends post-legal marijuana and that there is a new industry and with it a new source of jobs.

Researchers theorized that legal cannabis not only leads to more job opportunities, but also keeps users away from more dangerous substances.

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As for the black market and its harms, the establishment of a legal market has eliminated criminal activity and a source of oppression for marginalized people, including young black men, who have been targeted by law enforcement in the past.

“Long-term labor market effects may be different as we learn about the impact of RMLs on cognitive development and human capital acquisition in those under 21, which may take some time to unfold and translate into market-level impacts on productivity, wages and/or employment,” the study concludes. “Additionally, the labor market effects of criminal record cuts might also take time to unfold.”

While more research is needed to develop a clear picture of marijuana’s impact on the economy, this is good news for marijuana advocates and for anyone interested in landing a job in a new and developing field.