Legalization of Marijuana and Economic Growth in U.S. States

Kryzsko Commons Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota

Hypothesis: Legalizing marijuana has been linked to economic growth in states that have legalized it. Research Design/Methods: I will be looking at the GDP (growth domestic product) of 3 random states that have legalized marijuana and 3 random states that do not have any form of it legalized. I will start with the GDP a year before marijuana was legal in any of the six states to show where each state's economy was at beforehand. Then, I will show the GDP each year after to show how the economy has been affected in each of the six random states. I have not obtained my results yet but will continue my research to find out. Discussion: If my results show there is more growth from the three states that have legalized marijuana, then this study could be used as an argument to legalize marijuana due to its economic advantages. If my hypothesis is null, then this study could be used to show there are not economic advantages to the legalization of marijuana.