Half Banked: The Economic Impact of Cash Management in the Marijuana Industry

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Finance
Year: 2024
Volume: 79
Issue: 4
Pages: 2759-2796

Authors (2)

ELIZABETH A. BERGER (not in RePEc) NATHAN SEEGERT (University of Utah)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We investigate the economic value of cash management. In the legal marijuana industry, where only half of businesses have access to cash management services from a financial institution, we examine dispensary profitability using administrative and survey data. Our results show that businesses with cash management charge higher retail prices (8.3%), pay lower wholesale prices (7.3%), and have higher sales volume (19%). Together, these advantages create a 40% increase in profitability. These results support our model in which reputational capital and administrative costs drive profitability regardless of whether national banks, credit unions, or fintech provide the cash management functions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:jfinan:v:79:y:2024:i:4:p:2759-2796
Journal Field
Finance
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29