A behavioral economic approach to assessing demand for marijuana

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Economics
• Substance Use Research
• Addiction Science

Background:

• Marijuana is the most prevalent illicit drug in the US, with increasing use among young adults.
• Behavioral economic indices, like relative reinforcing efficacy (RRE), assess substance appeal.
• Previous RRE studies focused on licit and other illicit drugs, not marijuana.

Purpose of the Study:

• To be the first study to experimentally examine the relative reinforcing efficacy (RRE) of marijuana using a simulated purchasing task.
• To generate demand curves and RRE indices for marijuana in young adult recreational users.
• To explore the relationship between RRE indices and real-time marijuana use.

Main Methods:

• A computerized marijuana purchasing task was administered to 59 young adult recreational marijuana users.
• Participants "purchased" marijuana across 16 escalating price points ($0 to $160/joint).
• Real-time ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data on marijuana use were collected for two weeks.

Main Results:

• Marijuana demand was inelastic at lower prices and elastic at higher prices, indicating price sensitivity.
• RRE indices (demand intensity, Omax, Pmax, elasticity) significantly predicted real-time marijuana use.
• The simulated purchasing task demonstrated validity in assessing marijuana's reinforcing efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The study validates a simulated purchasing task for evaluating marijuana's reinforcing efficacy in young adults.
• Behavioral economic principles are valuable for understanding and addressing young adult marijuana use.
• Findings have implications for marijuana prevention, treatment strategies, and regulatory policies.