Why Economists Can't Understand Why Kids Get High: The Tax Deterrence Delusion
Enter a recent study from the Learned Societies Trust that asks: "Can taxation be used to effectively limit young people's use of legalized marijuana?" The research, conducted by Michelle Sovinsky, observes that young people tend to use marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes in combination. The conclusion? If we increase taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, we can reduce marijuana use among youth.