The legalization of cannabis for medical and commercial adult use has been associated to “significant increases” in cannabis use disorders (CUD) and cannabis poisonings (CP) when compared to non-legalized states. The authors of this study, Jayawardhana, J. (et.al.), researched national patient records (N=110,256,536), from 2011 to 2021, with diagnoses of a CUD or CP, by yearly quarters. They then compared the findings of states that have legalized cannabis (medically, commercial adult use, or both) against similar diagnoses in non-legalized states. They found that the CUD and CP diagnosis rates, per quarter, were notably higher, (by 3 to 4-fold), in states that have legalized cannabis.
Among their findings included, the enactment of state medical cannabis laws (MCL) was associated to a 42.7% increase in the diagnosis of cannabis use disorders (CUD) and an 88.6% increase in cannabis poisonings (CPs). In those states that implemented “recreational cannabis laws” (RCL), the rates of cannabis poisonings (CP) increased by 31.6% in the adult population.
The authors caution that the implementation of cannabis legalization at the state level for, medical or “recreational” use, is associated to greater health risks for the adult population, increased impacts to the health care system and final costs associated to the treatment for (CUDs) or (CPs).
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