Home Values Increase in U.S. Cities with Legalized Marijuana

A new study by Clever Real Estate reveals that home values increased on average by $6,337 in cities where recreational marijuana is legal compared to cities without legalized marijuana.

The average rate in legal cities was measured between 2017 and 2019, according to Inman. Cities in close proximity to legal dispensaries saw the greatest increase in home values with an average of 8.4%, or $22,888 between 2014 and 2019.

Medical marijuana cities experienced the same growth rate as areas where marijuana remains illegal.

Since marijuana legalization, homeowners have worried and complained that crime rates would increase and property values would decrease; However, the opposite has happened. Many younger home buyers are looking to buy in areas where marijuana is legal.

The study said, “States that legalize recreational cannabis see an immediate bump in home values following legalization, even without retail dispensaries opening up. The data suggests real estate investors can find blazing housing markets in cities where recreational cannabis is legalized.”

The largest increase in home value can be found in San Diego where there has been an average of $303,200 within 3 years.