Are Maryland medical marijuana dispensaries concentrated in wealthy, white neighborhoods?
An analysis of 85 Maryland dispensaries across 468 zip codes found no evidence that dispensaries were concentrated in high-income or majority-white communities, with dispensaries instead located in racially diverse areas with more retail.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Dispensaries were concentrated in zip codes with racially diverse populations and higher concentrations of retail establishments. Community-level racial or income disparities in geographic access to medical cannabis were not observed.
Key Numbers
85 dispensaries; 468 zip codes; 6.1 million residents; dispensaries located in racially diverse areas with higher retail density
How They Did This
Ecological cross-sectional design using geocoded locations of 85 operating dispensaries (as of December 2019) from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, linked to zip code demographics from the American Communities Survey covering 6.1 million residents across 468 zip codes.
Why This Research Matters
Equity in cannabis legalization is a major policy concern. While Maryland initially awarded a disproportionate share of business licenses to white-owned companies, this study suggests the geographic placement of dispensaries is not concentrated in privileged communities.
The Bigger Picture
Geographic access is only one dimension of equity. Even without location-based disparities, affordability barriers persist since medical cannabis is not covered by insurance. The study examined where dispensaries are, not who can afford to use them.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Ecological design cannot assess individual-level access. Did not examine affordability, transportation, or other access barriers. Cross-sectional data from a single state.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does geographic proximity to a dispensary translate to actual use across racial and income groups?
- ?How do affordability barriers interact with physical access?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 85 dispensaries across 468 zip codes
- Evidence Grade:
- Ecological cross-sectional design with comprehensive geographic coverage, but cannot assess individual-level access or confounders.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 using 2018-2019 data; the dispensary landscape may have changed since.
- Original Title:
- Geolocation of Maryland Medical Marijuana Dispensaries by Community Income and Racial Characteristics: An Ecological Design.
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 56(2), 318-326 (2021)
- Authors:
- Novak, Priscilla, Sanmartin, Maria X, Ali, Mir M(3)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03387
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Were dispensaries placed in wealthy areas?
No. The study found dispensaries were located in racially diverse zip codes with higher retail density, without concentration in high-income or majority-white communities.
Does this mean access is equitable?
Not necessarily. Geographic placement is one factor, but the study did not assess affordability, transportation, or insurance coverage, which all affect who can actually use medical cannabis.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03387APA
Novak, Priscilla; Sanmartin, Maria X; Ali, Mir M. (2021). Geolocation of Maryland Medical Marijuana Dispensaries by Community Income and Racial Characteristics: An Ecological Design.. Substance use & misuse, 56(2), 318-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2020.1868516
MLA
Novak, Priscilla, et al. "Geolocation of Maryland Medical Marijuana Dispensaries by Community Income and Racial Characteristics: An Ecological Design.." Substance use & misuse, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2020.1868516
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Geolocation of Maryland Medical Marijuana Dispensaries by Co..." RTHC-03387. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/novak-2021-geolocation-of-maryland-medical
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.