Issues in the implementation and evolution of the commercial recreational cannabis market in Colorado

Subritzky, Todd; Pettigrew, Simone; Lenton, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.001

Cited by 72 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Lower enforcement risks for suppliers have increased innovation of more advanced methods of extraction, as well as provided greater access to the raw inputs needed to produce concentrates [54]. Demand for alternatives to smoked cannabis may also be a factor, as exploratory studies have indicated a growing perception that vaporizing is a healthier and more efficient method of consumption than is smoking [55–57], analogous to perceptions that electronic nicotine delivery systems are less harmful than cigarettes [58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in cannabis potency and prices in a newly legal market: evidence from 30 million cannabis sales in Washington state

et al. 2017

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Aims To (1) assess trends and variation in the market share of product types and potency sold in a legal cannabis retail market, and (2) estimate how potency and purchase quantity influence price variation for cannabis flower. Design Secondary analysis of publicly available data from Washington State’s cannabis traceability system spanning July 7, 2014 to September 30, 2016. Descriptive statistics and linear regressions assessed variation and trends in cannabis product variety and potency. Hedonic regressions estimated how purchase quantity and potency influence cannabis flower price variation. Setting Washington State, USA. Participants (1) 44,482,176 million cannabis purchases, including (2) 31,052,123 cannabis flower purchases after trimming price and quantity outliers. Measurements Primary outcome measures were (1) monthly expenditures on cannabis, total delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration, and cannabidiol (CBD) concentration by product type; and (2) excise-tax-inclusive price per gram of cannabis flower. Key covariates for the hedonic price regressions included quantity purchased, THC, and CBD. Findings Traditional cannabis flowers still account for the majority of spending (66.6%), but the market share of extracts for inhalation increased by 145.8% between October 2014 and September 2016, now composing 21.2% of sales. The average THC-level for cannabis extracts is more than triple that for cannabis flowers (68.7% compared to 20.6%). For flower products, there is a statistically significant relationship between price per gram and both THC [coefficient = 0.012; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.011 to 0.013] and CBD [coefficient = 0.017; CI = 0.015 to 0.019]. The estimated discount elasticity is −0.06 [CI = −0.07 to −0.05]. Conclusions In the state of Washington, USA, the legal cannabis market is currently dominated by high-THC cannabis flower, and features growing expenditures on extracts. For cannabis flower, both THC and CBD are associated with higher per-gram prices, and there are small but significant quantity discounts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in cannabis potency and prices in a newly legal market: evidence from 30 million cannabis sales in Washington state

et al. 2017

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“…Code §§ 314-55-095, 314-55-105, 2016). Additionally, consumer advocacy groups and states have launched campaigns to educate consumers about the potential dangers of consumption (Subritzky, Pettigrew, & Lenton, 2016). …”

Section: Challenges Of Ediblesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles

et al. 2016

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Food products containing cannabis extract (edibles) have emerged as a popular and lucrative facet of the legalized market for both recreational and medicinal cannabis. The many formulations of cannabis extracts used in edibles present a unique regulatory challenge for policy makers. Though edibles are often considered a safe, discreet, and effective means of attaining the therapeutic and/or intoxicating effects of cannabis without exposure to the potentially harmful risks of cannabis smoking, little research has evaluated how ingestion differs from other methods of cannabis administration in terms of therapeutic efficacy, subjective effects, and safety. The most prominent difference between ingestion and inhalation of cannabis extracts is the delayed onset of drug effect with ingestion. Consumers often do not understand this aspect of edible use and may consume a greater than intended amount of drug before the drug has taken effect, often resulting in profoundly adverse effects. Written for the educated layperson and for policy makers, this paper explores the current state of research regarding edibles, highlighting the promises and challenges that edibles present to both users and policy makers, and describes the approaches that four states in which recreational cannabis use is legal have taken regarding regulating edibles.

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“…Cannabis legalization promotes the creation and proliferation of alternative cannabis use products such as edibles and vaping devices (Hopfer, 2014; Hunt and Miles, 2015; Subritzky et al, 2015). Access to such products may alter how cannabis is consumed by the close to two million adolescents and seven million young adults currently using cannabis (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2015), and may impact age of onset of cannabis use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

U.S. cannabis legalization and use of vaping and edible products among youth

Borodovsky

Lee

Crosier

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

125

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Background Alternative methods for consuming cannabis (e.g., vaping and edibles) have become more popular in the wake of U.S. cannabis legalization. Specific provisions of legal cannabis laws (LCL) (e.g., dispensary regulations) may impact the likelihood that youth will use alternative methods and the age at which they first try the method - potentially magnifying or mitigating the developmental harms of cannabis use. Methods This study examined associations between LCL provisions and how youth consume cannabis. An online cannabis use survey was distributed using Facebook advertising, and data were collected from 2630 cannabis-using youth (ages 14–18). U.S. states were coded for LCL status and various LCL provisions. Regression analyses tested associations among lifetime use and age of onset of cannabis vaping and edibles and LCL provisions. Results Longer LCL duration (ORvaping: 2.82, 95% CI: 2.24, 3.55; ORedibles: 3.82, 95% CI: 2.96, 4.94), and higher dispensary density (ORvaping: 2.68, 95% CI: 2.12, 3.38; ORedibles: 3.31, 95% CI: 2.56, 4.26), were related to higher likelihood of trying vaping and edibles. Permitting home cultivation was related to higher likelihood (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.50, 2.48) and younger age of onset (β: −0.30, 95% CI: −0.45, −0.15) of edibles. Conclusion Specific provisions of LCL appear to impact the likelihood, and age at which, youth use alternative methods to consume cannabis. These methods may carry differential risks for initiation and escalation of cannabis use. Understanding associations between LCL provisions and methods of administration can inform the design of effective cannabis regulatory strategies.

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Issues in the implementation and evolution of the commercial recreational cannabis market in Colorado

Cited by 72 publications

References 27 publications

Variation in cannabis potency and prices in a newly legal market: evidence from 30 million cannabis sales in Washington state

Variation in cannabis potency and prices in a newly legal market: evidence from 30 million cannabis sales in Washington state

Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles

U.S. cannabis legalization and use of vaping and edible products among youth

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