Legal cannabis laws, home cultivation, and use of edible cannabis products: A growing relationship?

Abstract

Background Over half of U.S. states have enacted legal cannabis laws (LCL). In parallel, edible cannabis products (i.e., edibles) have presented new regulatory challenges. LCL provisions that dictate access to cannabis (e.g., home cultivation (HC) or dispensaries (DSP)) may impact edible production and use. This study examined relationships among HC and DSP provisions, cannabis cultivation, and edible use. Methods An online cannabis use survey was distributed using Facebook. Data were collected from 1813 cannabis-using adults. U.S. states were classified as states without LCL (Non-LCL) or LCL states that: (1) only permit DSP (LCL DSP-only), (2) only permit HC (LCL HC-only), or (3) permit HC and DSP (LCL HC+DSP). Analyses tested associations among these classifications, cannabis growing, and edible use and procurement. Results Individuals in LCL HC-only and LCL HC+DSP states were more likely to report currently growing cannabis at home (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.7, 6.2; OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.4, 6.3, respectively) and past-month edible use (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.4, 3.4; OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.2, 3.9, respectively) than individuals in LCL DSP-only states. Regardless of state, those who had grown cannabis were more likely to have made edibles than those who had never grown cannabis (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 2.6). Individuals in LCL HC-only states were more likely to have made edibles in the past month than individuals from Non-LCL (OR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.5, 5.3) and DSP-only states (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.0, 4.4). Individuals in LCL HC+DSP states were more likely to have purchased edibles in the past month than individuals from Non-LCL (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 2.4, 5.6) and DSP-only states (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.5). Conclusion Specific LCL provisions may differentially affect individuals’ propensity to grow cannabis and make, buy, and use edible cannabis products. Permitting home cultivation contributes to a greater probability of growing cannabis. Those who grow cannabis economize the plant by creating homemade edible cannabis products. Conversely, permitting dispensaries increases the likelihood of purchasing edibles. The psychoactive effects of edibles with unknown and variable cannabinoid content will be unpredictable. Policymakers should carefully consider how specific LCL provisions can affect patterns of cannabis edible product access and quality.

Studying Cannabis Use Behaviors With Facebook and Web Surveys: Methods and Insights

“…At that point, we have increased the amount of money spent to anywhere between US $30 and US $60 per day. Figure 1 displays the Facebook advertisement click results from our most recently published survey [ 57 ]. In this study, we preprogrammed advertisements to be displayed for 6 days (September 3-8, 2016).…”

“…We have conducted a series of Web surveys using these methods, which have provided insights into patterns of cannabis use across the United States. Below we present data from 6 of those surveys, 3 of which have been published [ 57 , 59 , 60 ]. Table 1 provides an overview of the recruitment results for each of the surveys.…”

“…In a follow-up survey of adults, we collected responses (N=1813) to explore the relationship between provisions of legal cannabis laws (home cultivation and dispensaries) and cannabis edible procurement behaviors. We determined that those who live in states that permit home cultivation tend to make their own cannabis edibles, whereas those who live in states with cannabis dispensaries primarily purchase their edibles [ 57 ]. In another study, cannabis users (N=1212) participated in a survey assessing the frequency of cannabis use and thoughts about decreasing their use.…”

Assessment of local interest in trying edible cannabis products once legalized in Ontario, and awareness of their effects: a cross-sectional survey of youth and adults aged 16 years and older in Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph in 2018

“…regarding accidental cannabis ingestion by children (Barrus et al, 2016;McGill, 2014). A recent survey by Borodovsky and Budney (2017) found that respondents who lived in a state where home cultivation was legal had a greater likelihood of both growing cannabis and preparing homemade edibles. Given the large amount of interest among respondents in this study in both trying edibles and in preparing them at home, there may be a greater incidence of accidental ingestion by adults and children, as observed elsewhere following cannabis legalization.…”

Is the legalization of medical and recreational use of cannabis justified?

“…Odobrenje Ministarstva zdravlja po pravilu dolazi u obzir samo ako su ispunjeni precizno propisani "uslovi/simptomi i ako su iscrpljene druge, ‚konvencionalne' terapeutske opcije" (Sznitman, Lewis, 2018: 219). 3 Dozvolom Ministarstva zdravlja se utvrđuju mesečna doza koju pacijent može uzimati (po pravilu između 20 i 100 grama), dobavljač kanabisa i period trajanja dozvole (dozvole su oročene na šest meseci i mogu se obnavljati na zahtev lekara specijaliste) (Sznitman, Lewis, 2015: 447). U Izraelu i širom sveta je otvorena rasprava o eventualnim štetnim posledicama medicinske upotrebe kanabisa.…”