title: The effects of perceived quality on behavioral economic demand for marijuana: A web-based experiment.
abstract: Given the growing legalization of recreational marijuana use and related increase in its prevalence in the United States, it is important to understand marijuana's appeal. We used a behavioral economic (BE) approach to examine whether the reinforcing properties of marijuana, including "demand" for marijuana, varied as a function of its perceived quality.
  
  
  
  Using an innovative, Web-based marijuana purchase task (MPT), a sample of 683 young-adult recreational marijuana users made hypothetical purchases of marijuana across three qualities (low, mid and high grade) at nine escalating prices per joint, ranging from $0/free to $20.
  
  
  
  We used nonlinear mixed effects modeling to conduct demand curve analyses, which produced separate demand indices (e.g., Pmax, elasticity) for each grade of marijuana. Consistent with previous research, as the price of marijuana increased, marijuana users reduced their purchasing. Demand also was sensitive to quality, with users willing to pay more for higher quality/grade marijuana. In regression analyses, demand indices accounted for significant variance in typical marijuana use.
  
  
  
  This study illustrates the value of applying BE theory to young adult marijuana use. It extends past research by examining how perceived quality affects demand for marijuana and provides support for the validity of a Web-based MPT to examine the appeal of marijuana. Our results have implications for policies to regulate marijuana use, including taxation based on the quality of different marijuana products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Paula C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. Electronic address: lcollins@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: R Lorraine
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Jihnhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: De Leo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Earleywine
mesh_terms: D002188:Cannabis; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D060909:Economics, Behavioral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000191:economics*; D010465:Perception; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behavioral economics; Demand curve; Marijuana; Purchase task; Reinforcement; Young adults