Examining the relationship between the physical availability of medical marijuana and marijuana use across fifty California cities

Abstract

Background The purpose of the current study is to assess statistical associations between individual demographic and personality characteristics, the city-level physical availability of medical marijuana (as measured through densities per roadway mile of storefront dispensaries and delivery services), and the incidence and prevalence of marijuana use. Method Individual level data on marijuana use were collected during a telephone survey of 8,853 respondents living in 50 mid-size cities in California. Data on medical marijuana dispensaries and delivery services were obtained via six different websites and official city lists. Three outcome variables pertaining to lifetime, past year use, and frequency of past year use were analyzed using random effects logistic models (for lifetime and past year use) and random effects tobit models (for frequency of past 365-day use). Results The current study finds that the total physical availability of medical marijuana through dispensaries and delivery services per roadway mile at the city-level is positively related to current marijuana use and greater frequency of use, controlling for a variety of demographic and personality characteristics. As expected, current physical availability of medical marijuana was unrelated to lifetime use. Conclusions Regulations on the number and densities of marijuana outlets may be a sufficient means to restrain overall levels of marijuana use within cities. However, alternative use of delivery services may also provide easy access to marijuana and mitigate these effects.

Examining the relationship between marijuana use, medical marijuana dispensaries, and abusive and neglectful parenting

“…The physical availability of medical marijuana through storefront dispensaries and delivery services was related to frequency of physical abuse. Greater availability may enable impulsive purchases and use in more risky contexts (Freisthler & Gruenewald, 2014). …”

“…Lists of dispensaries were obtained through six websites advertising locations of dispensaries or cities where deliveries were available, official city lists, and trade publications. This number of these services was denominated by the number of roadway miles in the city to create a density measure (Freisthler & Gruenewald, 2014). This variable was logged for the analyses.…”

“…At the state level, Pacula and colleagues (2013) found that states that allowed marijuana distribution through dispensaries had higher rates of marijuana use. At the local level, California cities with more medical marijuana dispensaries also have more residents who currently use marijuana and, among users, greater frequencies of use (Freisthler & Gruenewald, 2014). Thus greater physical availability of marijuana may make it easier for parents to obtain marijuana for use.…”

The impacts of marijuana dispensary density and neighborhood ecology on marijuana abuse and dependence

“…In California, more frequent marijuana users are more likely to be male, young adult, white, and have higher incomes (Freisthler and Gruenewald, 2014; Morrison et al, 2014). Medical marijuana users are also more likely to be male and white (O'Connell and Bou-Matar, 2007; Ogborne and Smart, 2000; Reiman, 2007; Swift et al, 2005; Ware et al, 2005), but are older than frequent users (mean around 40 years old) and have lower incomes (O'Connell and Bou-Matar, 2007; Ogborne and Smart, 2000; Reiman, 2007; Swift et al, 2005; Ware et al, 2005).…”

“…No differences have been found in rates of marijuana abuse and dependence among marijuana users before and after enacting legislation in states that have liberalized marijuana policies in recent years (Cerda et al, 2012). Allowing medical marijuana to be distributed through dispensaries increases the likelihood of using marijuana in the past year and using marijuana more frequently (Freisthler and Gruenewald, 2014). Past-month marijuana use is higher in states that allow distribution of medical marijuana through store-front dispensaries (Pacula et al, 2013).…”