Public interest in Cannabis during election season: a Google Trends analysis

Table 1 Public internet search interest in Cannabis legalization when Cannabis is on the Ballot

State	Election date	Medical or recreational	Pre-election internet search interest ^a [95, CI]	Increase ^b [95, CI]
Alaska	Nov 2014	Recreational	36.2 [34.5–37.9]	63.8% [62.1–65.5]
Arizona	Nov 2016	Recreational	56.5 [53.9–59.1]	43.5% [40.9–46.1]
Arkansas	Nov 2016	Medical	43.0 [41.3–44.7]	57.0% [55.3–58.7]
California	Nov 2016	Recreational	45.3 [43.3–47.2]	52.7% [50.8–54.7]
Colorado	Nov 2012	Recreational	35.6 [33.4–37.8]	29.4% [27.2–31.6]
Florida	Nov 2016	Medical	51.4 [49.7–53.1]	48.6% [46.9–50.3]
Maine	Nov 2016	Recreational	39.2 [37.8–40.7]	60.8% [59.3–62.2]
Massachusetts	Nov 2012	Medical	39.7 [38.1–41.3]	30.3% [28.7–31.9]
Michigan	Nov 2018	Recreational	39.6 [38.5–40.8]	60.4% [59.2–61.5]
Missouri	Nov 2018	Medical	40.7 [39.3–42.1]	59.3% [57.9–60.7]
Nevada	Nov 2016	Recreational	28.4 [27.2–29.6]	44.6% [43.4–45.8]
North Dakota	Nov 2016	Medical	35.5 [33.9–37.1]	64.5% [62.9–66.1]
Ohio	Nov 2015	Recreational	60.4 [58.5–62.3]	28.6% [26.7–30.5]
Oklahoma	June 2018	Medical	26.8 [25.5–28.1]	64.2% [62.9–65.5]
Oregon	Nov 2014	Recreational	34.9 [33.4–36.3]	11.1% [9.7–12.6]
South Dakota	Nov 2010	Medical	57.4 [52.4–62.4]	36.6% [31.6–41.6]
Utah	Nov 2018	Medical	48.9 [46.4–51.4]	51.1% [48.6–53.6]
Washington	Nov 2012	Recreational	41.6 [39.6–43.6]	58.4% [56.4–60.4]

^aFor each state election, the mean internet search interest for “cannabis” was obtained from May 1, 2008 through the month before each specific state election
^bThe percent increase in relative internet search interest during the voting month compared to the mean relative internet search interest beginning May 1, 2008 and ending the month prior to voting on the bill

ISSN: 2522-5782