Considering Marijuana Legalization: Insights for Vermont and Other Jurisdictions

Caulkins, Jonathan P.; Kilmer, Beau; Kleiman, Mark A. R.; MacCoun, Robert J.; Midgette, Gregory; Oglesby, Pat; Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo; Reuter, Peter

doi:10.7249/rr864

Cited by 111 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 136 publications

(197 reference statements)

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“…The economic benefits of taxation of cannabis and regulations on buying are sometimes cited as benefits of this process, but ultimately there will be a need to determine if the economic benefits are greater than the total cost for public health and safety. Lastly, as Caulkins et al (2015) point out, legalization of marijuana is not simply a yes vs. no choice: it includes the kinds of organizations that can provide the drug, the regulations under which they operate, the nature of the products that can be distributed, and the price. In addition, such policies are subject to quick changes with federal policies, as well as timing and reversibility of legalization options as states revise their programs to adjust to unanticipated problems as the laws take effect.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Do We Know Now About the Impact of the Laws Related to Marijuana?

Maxwell

Mendelson

2016

Journal of Addiction Medicine

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Objectives This paper presents information on the status and impact of medical and legalized marijuana as well as the latest data on attitudes and prevalence of use since implementation of these laws. Recent reports from epidemiologists in Denver and Seattle are summarized to give the readers a sense of the changes as these laws have taken effect in their communities. Methods The status of these laws is reviewed and the results of surveys taken before and after the laws were enacted are presented, along with data on changing potency and driving under the influence of marijuana. Summary Prevalence of use by youths has not increased but their negative attitudes towards the risk of using marijuana have decreased; use by adults has increased. Potency continues to increase, as has the proportion of drivers testing positive for use of the drug. Data from Denver show increases in hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and calls to poison centers, with decreasing arrests and admissions to substance abuse treatment programs. Data from the Seattle area show similar decreases in treatment admissions and police involvement, but also increased prevalence of more frequent use. Conclusions Current data suggest that increases in marijuana use preceded legalization in 2012. Treatment admissions were declining prior to these laws, but some indicators of morbidity appear to be increasing subsequent to legalization, with modest increases in poison center calls in both states and increases in acute medical visits in Denver. Data are needed to understand the relationship between the patterns and amounts of use in terms of consequences as well as data on the health conditions of those receiving medical marijuana and the impact of higher potency.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Do We Know Now About the Impact of the Laws Related to Marijuana?

Maxwell

Mendelson

2016

Journal of Addiction Medicine

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“…In the US, lifetime prevalence of marijuana use among adults was approximately 43% in 2001-2003 1 and past 12-month prevalence was approximately 4% in 2001-2002. 2 Previous studies have shown a consistently strong association between marijuana and tobacco co-use, including tobacco use with blunts (marijuana rolled in tobacco leaves) 3 and mulling or as spliffs (adding tobacco to marijuana joints). 4 There is also growing evidence to support a “reverse gateway” effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana on cigarette initiation and progression toward nicotine dependence.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 At present, 11 states have legalized medical marijuana for 10 or more years with California being the first to pass legislation in 1996 with Proposition 215. These states represent those that have had the most time to enact the policy and for their population to respond to greater exposure and access to legal marijuana.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Marijuana Legalization and Co-use in Adult Cigarette Smokers

Wang¹,

Cataldo²

2016

Am J Hlth Behav

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Objectives We examined effects of long-term medical marijuana legalization on cigarette co-use in a sample of adults. Methods We conducted secondary analysis using data from the 2014 US Tobacco Attitudes and Beliefs Survey, which consisted of cigarette smokers, aged ≥ 45 years (N = 506). Participants were categorized by their state residence, where medical marijuana was (1) illegal, (2) legalized < 10 years, and (3) legalized ≥ 10 years. The Web-based survey assessed participants’ marijuana use, beliefs and attitudes on marijuana, and nicotine dependence using Fagerstrom Tolerance for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC) scores. Results In cigarette smokers aged ≥ 45 years, long-term legalization of medical marijuana was associated with stable positive increases in marijuana use prevalence (ever in a lifetime) (p = .005) and frequency (number of days in past 30 days) (unadjusted p = .005; adjusted p = .08). Those who reported marijuana co-use had greater FTND and HONC scores after adjusting for covariates (p = .05). Conclusions These preliminary findings warrant further examination of the potential impact of long-term legalization of medical marijuana on greater cigarette and marijuana co-use in adults and higher nicotine dependence among co-users at the population level.

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“…These licit substance industries have long known that heavy alcohol and tobacco users in the population generate the majority of profits (Chaloupka et al, 2002; Cook et al, 2002). The same may potentially be true for the emerging cannabis industry (Caulkins et al, 2015; Kilmer, 2014). This dynamic incentivizes companies to maximize profits by creating and sustaining heavy users of their products.…”

Section: Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 92%

The potential impact of cannabis legalization on the development of cannabis use disorders

Budney

Borodovsky

2017

Preventive Medicine

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Specific provisions of legal cannabis legislation and regulation could influence cannabis initiation, frequency and quantity of use, and progression to cannabis use disorder. This brief essay highlights scientifically based principles and risk factors that underlie substance use and addiction that can be leveraged to inform policies that might mitigate the development and consequences of cannabis use disorder. Specifically, pharmacologic, access/availability, and environmental factors are discussed in relation to their influence on substance use disorders to illustrate how regulatory provisions can differentially affect these factors and risk for addiction. Relevant knowledge from research and experience with alcohol and tobacco regulation are also considered. Research designed to inform regulatory policy and to evaluate the impact of cannabis legislation on cannabis use and problems is progressing. However, definitive findings will come slowly, and more concerted efforts and resources are needed to expedite this process. In the meantime, policymakers should take advantage of the large body of scientific literature on substance use to foster empirically-guided, common sense approaches to cannabis policy that focus on prevention of addiction.

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Considering Marijuana Legalization: Insights for Vermont and Other Jurisdictions

Cited by 111 publications

References 136 publications

What Do We Know Now About the Impact of the Laws Related to Marijuana?

What Do We Know Now About the Impact of the Laws Related to Marijuana?

Medical Marijuana Legalization and Co-use in Adult Cigarette Smokers

The potential impact of cannabis legalization on the development of cannabis use disorders

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