Résumé
Governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about the booming use of CBD (cannabidiol) products. However, we know little about the impact of their liberalization. We study a unique case of unintended liberalization of a CBD-based product (light cannabis) that occurred in Italy in 2017. Using unique and high-frequency data on prescription drug sales and by exploiting the staggered local availability of the new product in each Italian province, we document a significant substitution effect between light cannabis and anxiolytics, sedatives, opioids, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. Results are informative for regulators and suggest that bans on light cannabis use would disregard the needs of patients to seek effective reliefs of their symptoms.
Mots-clés
Light cannabis, self-medication, marijuana, difference-in-difference, prescription drugs, CBD.;
Référence
Vincenzo Carrieri, Leonardo Madio et Francesco Principe, « Do-It-Yourself medicine? The impact of light cannabis liberalization on prescription drugs », Journal of Health Economics, n° 102371, décembre 2020.
Voir aussi
Publié dans
Journal of Health Economics, n° 102371, décembre 2020