Wouldn’t you rather live in a state where Cannabis is legal? Yeah, me, too. So would most other Americans, according to a new survey just released by real estate company Redfin.
Of those recently moving to new areas, 46 percent prefer to reside somewhere marijuana is “fully legal,” reports Marijuana Moment. That compares to just 22 percent who for unfathomable reasons want to live somewhere prohibition is still in effect.
Twelve percent of respondents, in fact, said they would only consider living in places where marijuana can be legally purchased. Conversely, 10 percent said they would rule out moving to areas that have legal weed.
Thirty-two percent of people said marijuana legality doesn’t make any difference when it comes to picking a place to live.
Eighteen states and Washington, D.C. have legalized recreational Cannabis use for adults over 21.
Other Factors Often Take Precedence
Legal Cannabis and other public policy issues are important factors in deciding where to move. But other considerations often take precedence, according to Redfin.
“People take the politics of a place into consideration when deciding where to move, but the truth of the matter is that other factors including housing affordability and access to jobs and schools take priority,” Taylor Marr, the deputy chief economist for the company, said in a press release.
The survey involved 1,023 U.S. residents who moved to a new home during the 18 months prior to answering the questions in August. It also covered other issues such as abortion, voting rights and anti-discrimination laws for gender and sexual orientation.
Previous studies, including one earlier this year using data from online real estate marketplace Zillow, have shown Cannabis legalization is associated with higher home property values. Home values increased $6,338 more in states where marijuana is legal, compared to states that haven’t legalized marijuana.
Last year, another study from University of Oklahoma economists similarly found that states that legalize marijuana see a boost in housing prices. The effect is most pronounced once nearby retail outlets open for business, the economists found.
Research—including one study released just this month, authored by a federal official with the Department of Agriculture—has tied cannabis legalization to lower crime rates. That is, of course, a key factor in home values and neighborhood desirability.
