A representative survey of 1,006 New Jersey residents found more support for directing cannabis tax revenue toward public health, housing, and education than toward police or courts.
Policy advocates, state legislators, and anyone following cannabis tax revenue allocation debates.
1,006 NJ residents surveyed on cannabis tax spending priorities
What the researchers found
More residents prioritized community-based initiatives in public health, housing, and education over funding for police, courts, and prisons when asked how cannabis tax revenue should be spent.
Why it matters
As more states legalize recreational cannabis, how tax revenue gets allocated becomes a concrete policy question. Public opinion data can shape whether that money reinforces punitive enforcement or funds community investment.
The numbers in context
1,006 respondents surveyed. Among Black residents, the largest share chose affordable housing investments. Political orientation was the most consistent predictor of preferences, with Republicans favoring traditional law enforcement funding.
How the study worked
Population-representative survey of 1,006 New Jersey adults conducted four months after recreational cannabis sales launched. Used multinomial logistic regression to assess how demographics and political orientation shaped funding preferences.
What this study cannot tell us
Single-state survey taken shortly after sales began, so preferences may shift over time. Self-reported priorities may not translate to actual political action.
How to read the evidence
Population-representative survey with regression analysis, but cross-sectional and limited to one state.
When this study was published
2024 study reflecting early post-legalization opinion in New Jersey.
The bigger picture
Cannabis legalization generates significant tax revenue, but the debate over how to spend it reflects deeper disagreements about criminal justice, public health priorities, and racial equity. These findings suggest the public leans toward reinvestment over enforcement.
Questions still open
- Do preferences change as cannabis markets mature and revenue amounts become clearer? How do other states with longer legalization histories compare?
Common questions
What did most New Jersey residents want cannabis tax money spent on?
Did preferences differ by race?
What factor most strongly predicted preferences?
Read the original research
Public opinion on the expenditure of adult-use cannabis tax revenue: Evidence from New Jersey.
The International journal on drug policy, 125, 104334
Citation
Link, Nathan W; Hyatt, Jordan M; Powell, Kathleen. (2024). Public opinion on the expenditure of adult-use cannabis tax revenue: Evidence from New Jersey.. The International journal on drug policy, 125, 104334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104334