No abstract

Marijuana legalization in U.S. states has introduced new regulatory processes, which allow for some degree of local authority. A common provision in state laws has provided a local option, which enables municipalities to prohibit commercial cannabis facilities within their borders. This paper examined potential determinants of prohibition decisions, with an emphasis on community and local government characteristics. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, determinants of local decisions to prohibit cannabis businesses in Michigan were analyzed. A unique feature of Michigan’s approach to legalization included separate local options to opt into medical marijuana and opt out of recreational marijuana. The results found that both community and local government characteristics explain variation in prohibitions on marijuana businesses. In general, local governments were more tolerant of marijuana businesses in areas with lower densities of senior citizens and higher densities of Black residents. However, the effects of some determinants varied based on whether the decision was to allow medical or recreational marijuana. Higher income areas were more likely to opt out of recreational marijuana, but they were no different from other areas on the likelihood of opting into medical marijuana. Prohibition decisions also were affected by local government characteristics, such as the number of members on city council, female representation, and having a council-manager form of government.

A 2017 gambling expansion bill in Pennsylvania included a provision that gave municipalities the option to ban a new casino from opening within their borders.  This paper examined how different factors influenced local decisions on whether to allow casino gambling.  Multilevel linear probability models indicated that municipalities were influenced by economic characteristics, as evidenced by a higher likelihood of allowing casinos in communities with lower levels of household income.  Results also suggested that municipalities were influenced by variables related to tax competition and the percentage of residents who were black.  The findings of this study identify factors that may influence municipal governments when given the authority to opt out of a state gambling expansion capable of generating a new source of local tax revenue.

As several US states have legalized recreational marijuana over the past decade, local approval of commercial marijuana activities has faced opposition in a non-negligible share of communities. A common provision in state laws often grants local governments the authority to prohibit marijuana businesses from locating within their jurisdictions. This paper analyzed determinants of local government policies in New York State following the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2021. A key feature of New York’s law authorized municipal governments to pass an “opt-out” ordinance prohibiting marijuana retail stores, on-site consumption establishments, or both. Based on results from multilevel logistic regression models, the likelihood of allowing commercial marijuana activities was higher for local governments representing communities with larger Black populations, fewer evangelical Protestants, and lower levels of household income. While slightly more municipalities prohibited on-site consumption, determinants of opt-out decisions were similar for both retail and consumption businesses.

Since 2011, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has forced drivers to pick one of three national series for which they would be eligible to compete for a season championship. Prior to this “Pick-A-Series” rule, many drivers in the premier Sprint Cup Series competed regularly in the Nationwide Series, which is a developmental division for less experienced drivers. I examined whether the removal of moonlighting Sprint Cup drivers from championship contention encouraged less aggressive driving among those who competed exclusively in the Nationwide Series. There was weak evidence that the Pick-A-Series rule reduced accident proneness among Nationwide drivers relative to Sprint Cup drivers.