Budding enrollment

The impact of cannabis policy on US colleges and universities

Bibliographic Data

ID22420512
AuthorsJoshua H Hess (0000-0002-2950-5673, Department of Economics Darla Moore School of Business University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina USA), Danna Thomas (0009-0000-9880-336X, Department of Economics Darla Moore School of Business University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina USA, corresponding author)
Year2026
Publication date2026-03-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueContemporary Economic Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1074-3529 • E-ISSN: 1465-7287
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/coep.70029
OpenAlexW7140424119
LanguageEN
References cited27

We examine how liberalized recreational marijuana laws have affected freshmen enrollment and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) major choice using difference‐in‐differences and event study models. Estimates indicate near‐zero initial enrollment growth as schools substituted between in‐state and out‐of‐state students. However, total enrollment increased in later periods as out‐of‐state gains persisted and in‐state enrollment returned to its baseline. We find little evidence of an adverse effect on total freshmen STEM major enrollment.

Adverse effect · Cannabis · Event study · Peer effects · Recreation · Innovations in Educational Methods · School Choice and Performance · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access