By Bhavana KunkalikarMay 2 2023Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM In a recent study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, researchers explored the relationship between the availability of legal cannabis and its impact on cannabis usage and health outcomes.
Notably, the differences in medical and recreational markets impact these hospitalizations. Reports from the recreational market are crucial for shaping present and future legislative processes. Studies published in English, Spanish, and German since 2012 were reviewed. The studies included subjects from different groups, such as the general population, cannabis users, those affected by others' cannabis use, and other target groups. These groups were chosen to explore various regulatory options.
Results Of 6,253 studies, 136 were selected for full-text screening after removing duplicates. Almost 50% of the studies included data on any form of legalization. The studies examined the correlation between legal cannabis and measures of cannabis utilization and health outcomes. Various availability indicators were used in the studies, classified as density or proximity estimates.
The study found that eleventh-grade students who attended schools within one mile of a cannabis retailer had a higher prevalence of dabbed cannabis, smoked cannabis usage, and edible consumption. Two studies analyzed data from a school student survey to investigate the correlation between alcohol and cannabis and the density of legal cannabis retailers. The first study found a higher prevalence of cannabis usage among students in counties with more cannabis retailers.