ABSTRACT
Physical, economic, and socioeconomic environmental factors in one's neighborhood have been
shown to influence substance use and substance use disorder, but the literature specific to the ecological
correlates of marijuana is surprisingly limited and simplistic. With medical marijuana legalized in 23 states and
Washington D.C. in the past two decades and recreational marijuana legalized in Colorado, Washington,
Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. recently, marijuana-related environments in the U.S. have changed
dramatically. To appreciate the impacts of these laws, empirical data on the relationship between environment
and marijuana-related outcomes are much needed. The goal of this project is to test a series of hypotheses on
the relationships of multiscale environmental factors to marijuana use, marijuana use disorder, purchase
behaviors, and other related outcomes, with an emphasis on policy-relevant modifiable factors in neighborhood
environments. This empirical research aims to provide evidence-based guidance to community public health
and urban planning policymakers regarding marijuana regulation strategies, such as licensing policies, zoning
ordinances, tax and pricing, and policies to limit types of products sold, that may ameliorate negative health
and socioeconomic consequences related to marijuana. Specifically, we propose: 1) Aim 1 (physical
environment): to quantify the relationships of availability and proximity of marijuana stores to marijuana use,
marijuana use disorder, and purchase behaviors; 2) Aim 2 (economic environment): to quantify the
relationships of marijuana price and product variety to marijuana use, marijuana use disorder, and purchase
behaviors; and 3) Aim 3 (socioeconomic environment): to examine whether and how neighborhood SES
influences the relationships of physical and economic environments to marijuana use, marijuana use disorder,
and purchase behaviors. We will leverage innovative sources of objectively measured environmental data and
an original online survey on a representative sample of 18,000 adults aged 18 or older in 20 continental states
with marijuana legalization. This project is innovative in its focus on neighborhood-level multiscale
environmental factors potentially modifiable by policies and the use of unprecedented sources for objectively
measured environmental data. Further strengths include the application of a comprehensive ecological
framework, an original survey on large state-representative samples with extraordinarily rich information on
marijuana-related outcomes, measures to distinguish recreational use from medical use, collection of data on
both objective and perceived environmental factors, and a trans-disciplinary team with demonstrated relevant
expertise.