Work

Perceived versus Measured Impacts of Medical Marijuana on Rural Oklahoma Home Values

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Oklahoma has witnessed a remarkable expansion of its medical marijuana industry since legalization in 2018, emerging as the largest in the nation in terms of both dispensaries and growers per capita. However, the ramifications of this burgeoning sector remain largely unexplored in rural areas of the state. A focus group in one rural community provides information on the most important perceived impacts of the industry, which include influences on local housing values. An event study confirms that high-grower (but not high-dispensary) counties saw housing value increases of roughly 20% post-legalization when compared to neighboring states where marijuana remains illegal.

Source: Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics

DOI: 10.1017/aae.2025.13

Authors: Sidany Hilburn, Brian E. Whitacre, Andrew J. Van Leuven

Institutions: Oklahoma State University, University of Vermont

Language: English

Topic: Housing Market and Economics

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,660