How and why have attitudes about cannabis legalization changed so much?

Felson, Jacob; Adamczyk, Amy; Thomas, Christopher

doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.12.011

Cited by 85 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Felson et al sought to identify why public opinions have changed dramatically since the 1980s. 26 The authors found there are multiple factors that may have led the change in public opinion, including a decrease in religious affiliation, a decline in punitiveness, and a shift in media coverage. It is imperative that pharmacists be equipped with the best information possible about the safety and efficacy of MC rather than providing information based on public opinion or media coverage.…”

Section: Science and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

A nationwide survey of pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions regarding medical cannabis

Moeller¹,

McGuire²,

Melton³

2020

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association

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Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare knowledge and perceptions of medical cannabis (MC) between pharmacy students who attended schools where MC was legal and illegal. Design: A nationwide anonymous survey regarding MC was distributed to pharmacy students. The survey consisted of the following sections: (1) demographics and personal factors, (2) knowledge assessment of indications and adverse effects of MC, and (3) perceptions assessment. Setting and participants: Equal numbers of pharmacy schools were selected and sent surveys based on geographical regions, private versus public universities, and the state's legal status of MC for first through fourth-year pharmacy students to complete. Outcome measures: Student knowledge of MC indications and adverse effects were treated as quizzes. Median percentage correct and whether students passed the quizzes (! 70%) were evaluated based on the state's legal status. Students' perceptions were similarly compared. Results: A total of 629 students accessed the survey. Most students who completed the survey attended pharmacy schools where MC was illegal (55%), were female (68%), and had personally tried cannabis (53%). Overall, 91% of students believed that MC should be legalized nationally. A low number of students correctly identify approved indications with 14.8% of students in states with MC legalization scoring greater than 70% compared with 15.9% of students in states without MC legalization (P ¼ 0.748). Similar findings were seen in the side effects quiz with only 6.1% of students in states with legal MC scoring greater than 70% compared with 7.4% of students where MC is illegal (P ¼ 0.569) There were minimal differences in students' perceptions of MC based on the states' legal status. Conclusion: Our study continues to highlight that pharmacy students lack knowledge and preparation to counsel and educate on MC. With increasing state legalizations, pharmacy schools need to address this knowledge gap to ensure optimal patient care.

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Section: Science and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

A nationwide survey of pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions regarding medical cannabis

Moeller¹,

McGuire²,

Melton³

2020

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association

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show abstract

“…Thus, we will examine perceptions of the extent to which formal controls (the law) and informal controls (prototypes of peers based on cannabis use) influence cannabis use. Our findings will inform potential law reform in NZ and internationally given that public views towards cannabis legalization are becoming increasingly more liberal 7 and further movement from prohibition to legalization is likely. We focus on the student culture given that adolescents are particularly prone to the adverse consequences of cannabis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Control of Recreational Cannabis in a New Zealand University Sample: Perceptions of Informal and Formal Controls

Robertson

Tustin

2020

Subst�Abuse

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An increasing number of countries have, or are moving towards, reforming cannabis policies. New Zealand is also moving in this direction and the government will hold a referendum on the legalization of recreational cannabis in September 2020. To inform imminent public and political discussions it is important to understand how current cannabis use is controlled. Research suggests that cannabis law has been ineffective in NZ. Internationally, informal controls, rather than the law, have been found to shape cannabis use by creating a threshold for normalization, but the attitudes shaping this threshold are unknown. This study aimed to examine drug acceptability attitudes, specifically students’ attitudes towards the illegal use of cannabis and their attitudes towards peers who abstain, sometimes use, or are heavy users of cannabis, to identify the factors that control cannabis use. Using a mixed methods approach, university students recruited their peers (N = 535) to complete a pen and paper survey investigating perceptions towards 3 cannabis user prototypes (abstainers, moderate users, heavy users), concern for legality of cannabis use, and the integration of cannabis into the student culture (perceptions of peers’ use, ease of acquisition, and availability). Perceptions of peers’ lifetime and regular use were 82% and 38.5%, respectively. Participants rated cannabis as easy to acquire and likely to be available at a typical student social occasion. The majority stated that the law does not deter use (92.7%); participants perceived the law to be soft and that they are unlikely to get caught. Participants’ descriptions of the 3 cannabis user prototypes revealed a threshold for normalization. For instance, abstaining was perceived to be associated with positive attributes (such as being studious), linked to being less sociable, and linked to being less likely to be judged. Moderate use of cannabis was perceived to be normal and sociable. Heavy use was perceived to be associated with having negative attributes, such as being addicted, unhealthy, and an underachiever, and negative drug labels. Our findings revealed that cannabis use is not controlled by the law, but by informal thresholds of control. Moderate cannabis use is accepted whereas heavy cannabis use is not. We extended research by identifying the attitudes shaping these thresholds, in particular that negative outcomes associated with heavy use deters the normalization of this behavior. We argue that policy must be informed by, and build on, these informal controls. The negative perceptions associated with heavy use also raise concerns regarding the well-being of heavy users, and coupled with the ineffectiveness of cannabis law, lend support towards a health model for regulating cannabis. Furthermore, insights into the negative perceptions associated with heavy use could inform health interventions on the types of concerns that will resonate with users.

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“…And if you're told that marijuana's the worst thing in the world, but then if your cousin who has cancer is using it and it's helping him, and you begin to see stores that are helping other people, you begin to question your assumptions that you've been taught about marijuana as a substance. (Compare Kilmer and MacCoun 2017;Felson, Adamczyk, and Thomas 2019).…”

Section: Legalization Colorado Stylementioning

confidence: 99%

Change Is in the Air: The Smell of Marijuana, after Legalization

Garriott¹

2020

Law Soc. Inq.

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Marijuana continues to be legalized throughout the world. In the United States, a unique approach to legalization is taking hold that focuses on the creation of commercial marijuana markets. This article examines the everyday realities of this approach to legalization through a focus on one of marijuana’s most legally significant attributes: its smell. In the context of prohibition, the smell of marijuana was a key tool of criminal law enforcement. In the context of legalization, its significance has expanded to include nuisance laws governing the presence of unwanted odors and commercial laws that facilitate economic activity in the marijuana market. By focusing on the sense of smell in the context of marijuana legalization, this article shows the implications of the market-based approach for drug policy reform. More broadly, this focus highlights the importance of the senses to sociolegal change and the ongoing construction of legality in the context of capitalism.

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How and why have attitudes about cannabis legalization changed so much?

Cited by 85 publications

References 61 publications

A nationwide survey of pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions regarding medical cannabis

A nationwide survey of pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions regarding medical cannabis

Control of Recreational Cannabis in a New Zealand University Sample: Perceptions of Informal and Formal Controls

Change Is in the Air: The Smell of Marijuana, after Legalization

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