Thesis
County-level variation in support for medical and recreational cannabis on the ballot
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/104479
Abstract
This paper identified county-level characteristics associated with variation in support for cannabis law reform, and found differences in how these demographic factors influence support for medical vs. recreational cannabis ballot measures. The majority of prior studies analyze attitudes or opinion rather than predicting votes, and there is a gap in current research regarding differences in support for medical and recreational cannabis. Previous empirical articles and national public opinion polls were reviewed, and their findings were used to generate county-level hypotheses. These hypotheses were tested, on samples of votes on medical and recreational ballot measures between 2008 and 2014, using a series of OLS regressions. Results show that race, political affiliation, and arrests for cannabis possession affected votes on both types of policy. Population size and religion only affected votes on medical cannabis, while age, education, and gender affected only votes on recreational cannabis. Counties with higher rates of arrest for cannabis possession had lower rates of support for medical cannabis, but higher rates of support for recreational cannabis. Counties with more Hispanic residents and more voters that are Republican had significantly lower rates of support for both types of cannabis ballot measures.
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Details
- Title
- County-level variation in support for medical and recreational cannabis on the ballot
- Creators
- Lindsey Marie Beltz
- Contributors
- Clayton James Mosher (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Sociology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525281201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis