Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption

To date, 16 states have passed medical marijuana laws, yet very little is known about their effects. Using state-level data, we examine the relationship between medical marijuana laws and a variety of outcomes. Legalization of medical marijuana is associated with increased use of marijuana among adults, but not among minors. In addition, legalization is associated with a nearly 9 percent decrease in traffic fatalities, most likely to due to its impact on alcohol consumption. Our estimates provide strong evidence that marijuana and alcohol are substitutes.medical marijuana, traffic fatalities, alcohol consumption

High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide

Using state-level data for the period 1990 through 2007, we estimate the effect of legalizing medical marijuana on suicide rates. Our results suggest that the passage of a medical marijuana law is associated with an almost 5 percent reduction in the total suicide rate, an 11 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 20- through 29-year-old males, and a 9 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 30- through 39-year-old males. Estimates of the relationship between legalization and female suicides are less precise and are sensitive to functional form.medical marijuana laws, marijuana, alcohol, suicide

The Solar Test of the Equivalence Principle

The Earth, Mars, Sun, Jupiter system allows for a sensitive test of the strong equivalence principle (SEP) which is qualitatively different from that provided by Lunar Laser Ranging. Using analytic and numerical methods we demonstrate that Earth-Mars ranging can provide a useful estimate of the SEP parameter $\eta$. Two estimates of the predicted accuracy are derived and quoted, one based on conventional covariance analysis, and another (called ``modified worst case'' analysis) which assumes that systematic errors dominate the experiment. If future Mars missions provide ranging measurements with an accuracy of $\sigma$ meters, after ten years of ranging the expected accuracy for the SEP parameter $\eta$ will be of order $(1-12)\times 10^{-4}\sigma$. These ranging measurements will also provide the most accurate determination of the mass of Jupiter, independent of the SEP effect test.Comment: 10 pages; LaTeX; three figures upon reques

The Ursinus Weekly, October 16, 1939

Prof. Agan talks to 300 dads, students • Dr. Volbrecht tells of pre-war Europe • Pep rally will feature talk by former coach • Cabinet of junior class plans new publication • Bear football team capitalizes on fumbles, tops P.M.C., 4-0 • Thirteen new members are accepted into debating club • Women\u27s mass meeting hears talk about choral speaking • I.R.C. to elect new members Oct. 23; Showalter new v-pres. • Dr. Willauer will speak before pre-legal society this evening • Rev. Finnie to speak at Y vespers on Sunday • Pre-medical students to hear Dr. Dressler Tuesday evening • Ursinus sends delegates to F. & M. conference • Practice teachers start schoolward trek • First meeting of French Club tonight at prof. Wilcox\u27 home • Curtain Club players will again present No! Not the Russians! • Women\u27s Athletic Association to hold party in woods tonight • Week\u27s hockey shows one victory and one tie • Soccermen snagged by Leopards of Lafayette • Council to inaugurate new intramural policyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1822/thumbnail.jp

TB101: The Relevance of Option Value in Benefit-Cost Analysis

This publication represents a review and a critical re-evaluation of the literature dealing with option value. This literature is rich and dynamic and provides a fascinating sequence of articles, comments, and rebuttals. Reevaluation of the concept requires a rather comprehensive review of this literature, which is something that has not been provided to date. The literature review is also important because the work of some authors has been systematically overlooked in the course of the debate. As a result of this oversight, the original formulation of the concept continues to be cited in the literature even though its practical significance is doubtful.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1085/thumbnail.jp

B793: Estimation of the Cost of Providing Publicly-Supported Outdoor Recreational Facilities in Maine

Federal, state and local government agencies have historically played a significant role in providing outdoor recreational facilities for public use. Public agencies provide campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, access to swimming and boating sites, interpretive facilities and programs, and numerous other types of recreational facilities. Until recently, very little attention was devoted to the costs associated with the provision of these facilities. Public funds were allocated to the construction and operation of the facilities without much concern for the economic consequences of these actions. However, during the last decade several studies have documented the cost of providing publicly supplied outdoor recreational facilities and some of the consequences. These studies have analyzed a wide range of facilities managed by state and federal agencies. The objective of this project is to measure the cost of providing various outdoor recreational facilities in Maine. The project was initiated in the Spring of 1981 following a meeting of personnel from several of the public agencies that provide recreational services and facilities. Several concerns were voiced at that meeting, including the need to revise user fees, uncertainty regarding the level of future agency funding, lack of information about provision costs, the need to document provision costs for legislative bodies, and questions regarding whether users should pay a larger share of the costs of providing the recreational facilities. A cost of provision study of a wide range of public recreational facilities seemed to be a first step in addressing many of these concerns. A cooperative agreement was written in which the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maine at Orono would perform the study with funding provided by the U.S. Forest Service. Agencies participating in the study include the Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Baxter State Park, Evans Notch Ranger District of the White Mountains National Forest, and Acadia National Park. The actual facilities included in the study are shown in Figure 1.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1124/thumbnail.jp