title: Examining the locations of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles.
abstract: Little is known about the spatial distribution of medical marijuana dispensaries, particularly whether or not sites are disproportionately located in minority or communities with younger populations. This paper will assess if there is a relationship between medical marijuana dispensaries and neighbourhood characteristics.
  
  
  
  This study used an ecological, cross-sectional design of 1000 census tracts from Los Angeles city in 2012 to explore the relationship between neighbourhood sociodemographics, structural features of neighbourhoods and density of medical marijuana dispensaries. Locations of dispensaries were obtained through a premise survey of all listed dispensaries. Data on neighbourhood characteristics were obtained from Geolytics. The study used Bayesian conditionally autoregressive models that include controls for spatial heterogeneity to analyse the data.
  
  
  
  Findings show that dispensaries are located in areas that allow for commercial establishments. Results indicate a positive relationship between dispensaries and percent commercially zoned, areas with highway ramp access, density of on- and off-premise alcohol outlets and percent Hispanic residents.
  
  
  
  In sum, the findings suggest that, likely because of zoning regulations, dispensaries were located in primarily commercially zoned areas with greater road access (as measured by the presence of highway ramps). Given that areas with higher densities of dispensaries also have higher densities of alcohol outlets, future work should examine how this co-location affects neighbourhood problems such as crime and violence. [Thomas C, Freisthler B. Examining the locations of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:334-337].
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freisthler
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D064086:Medical Marijuana
keywords: Los Angeles; dispensaries; medical marijuana