What Do We Know Now About the Impact of the Laws Related to Marijuana?
OBJECTIVES:
This
study presents information on the status and impact of medical and legalized
marijuana, and 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, and 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 before these laws, but some indicators of
morbidity seem 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, and data on the health
conditions of those receiving medical marijuana and the impact of higher
potency.
- 1Center for Social Work Research (JCM); Denver Office of Drug Strategy, 1200 Federal Boulevard, Denver, Colorado (BM).
No comments:
Post a Comment