Responsible and controlled use: Older cannabis users and harm reduction

Lau, Nicholas; Sales, Paloma; Averill, Sheigla; Murphy, Fiona; Sato, Sye-Ok; Murphy, Sheigla

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.03.008

Cited by 87 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Cannabis users without a doctor's recommendation were relegated to underground market transactions where they risked getting contaminated products, arrested or robbed. Our research findings suggest the medical cannabis system's formal regulations increase safe access and support harm reduction through laboratory testing, proper labelling and education [20]. Such regulations could benefit non‐medical cannabis users as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

A safer alternative: Cannabis substitution as harm reduction

Lau

Sales

Averill

et al. 2015

Drug and Alcohol Review

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127

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

A safer alternative: Cannabis substitution as harm reduction

Lau

Sales

Averill

et al. 2015

Drug and Alcohol Review

Self Cite

127

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“…A small study found that a substantial percentage (45%) of cannabis users reported that vaping helped them to stop or reduce cannabis use (Etter, 2015). Those who use cannabis may also perceive that vaping is safer than smoking (Etter, 2015; Lau et al, 2015) and that vaping may confer health benefits (Malouff et al, 2013). Although there are concerns that vaping will lead to more frequent use of tobacco and cannabis together, evidence showed that vapers were less likely to combine tobacco and cannabis when vaping (Malouff et al, 2013; also see Lee et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and correlates of “Vaping” as a route of cannabis administration in medical cannabis patients

Cranford

Bohnert

Perron

et al. 2016

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Purpose To examine the prevalence and correlates of vaporization (i.e., “vaping”) as a route of cannabis administration in a sample of medical cannabis patients. Procedures Adults ages 21 and older (N = 1,485 M age = 45.1) who were seeking medical cannabis certification (either for the first time or as a renewal) at medical cannabis clinics in southern Michigan completed a screening assessment. Participants completed measures of route of cannabis administration, cannabis use, alcohol and other substance use. Findings An estimated 39% (n=511) of the sample reported past-month cannabis vaping, but vaping as the sole route of cannabis administration was rare. Specifically, only 30 participants (2.3% of the full sample and 5.9% of those who reported any vaping) indicated vaping as the sole route of cannabis administration. The majority (87.3%) of those who reported vaping also reported smoking (combustion) as a route of cannabis administration. Being younger than age 44, having more than a high school education, engaging in nonmedical stimulant use, being a returning medical cannabis patient, and greater frequency of cannabis use were associated with higher odds of vaping at the bivariate level and with all variables considered simultaneously. Conclusions Vaping appears to be relatively common among medical cannabis patients, but is seldom used as the sole route of cannabis administration. Results highlight the importance of monitoring trends in vaping and other substance use behaviors in this population and underscore the need for longitudinal research into the motives, correlates, and consequences of cannabis vaping in medical cannabis patients.

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“…Swift, Copeland, and Lenton ; Tatarsky ) are remarkably consistent with the well‐established rituals and informal guidelines that have been observed by long‐term users of the drug (cf. Hathaway ; Lau et al ). Harm reduction measures that are commonly advised are: use less and use less often, and use in a safe place with trusted friends.…”

Section: Advancing Harm Reduction Interventions Aimed At Youthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence‐based policy development for cannabis? Insights on preventing use by youth

Hathaway¹

2019

Can Public Adm

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This article challenges the assumptions underlying the shared federal, provincial, and territorial goals of reducing criminal involvement in the drug trade and preventing substance use by youth. These official government objectives, it is argued, reflect a harmful tendency that continues the tradition of neglecting decades of sociological research on the efficiency of informal sources of control. Rather than continue to prioritize prevention, consistent evidence-based policy development for cannabis requires articulation of more informed and realistic goals of harm reduction. New educational initiatives need to build on informal controls that more effectively regulate responsible substance use behaviour.Sommaire : Cet article remet en question les hypothèses sous-tendant les objectifs communs des gouvernements fédéral, provinciaux et territoriaux qui consistent à diminuer l'activité criminelle dans le trafic de la drogue et à prévenir la toxi comanie chez les jeunes. Nous soutenons que ces objectifs gouvernementaux officiels reflètent la tendance néfaste qui persiste dans la tradition de négliger des décennies de recherche sociologique sur l'efficacité de sources de contrôle informelles. Plutôt que de continuer à faire de la prévention une priorité, l'élaboration d'une politique sur le cannabis cohérente et fondée sur des données probantes requiert la définition d'objectifs de la réduction des méfaits qui soient mieux informés et plus réalistes. De nouvelles initiatives éducatives doivent s'appuyer sur des formes de contrôle informelles qui régissent plus efficacement un comportement de toxicomanie responsable. et al. 2018). These research findings are consistent with each other and cast doubt on the coherence of the primary objectives of the government.This article builds on classic contributions to the literature about the relative effectiveness of formal and informal sources of control among illicit drug consumers. The analysis presented raises questions in particular about the feasibility of displacing the illicit market and the public health objective of reducing use by youth. The article's primary contribution is to further the advancement of sociological perspectives informing policy discussions about cannabis legalization as a regulatory measure targeting reduction of drug use-related harm. Formal bureaucratic forms of governance are hampered by their failure to account for the efficiency of networks of informal interaction in regulating norms of conduct.The goals of legalization from this standpoint, it is argued, are based on faulty premises about the characteristics of the illicit market and related patterns of supply and use behaviour. As cannabis has moved from the margins to the mainstream, informal social practices long recognized by users remain the most effective ways of regulating use. The potential for effective harm reduction and prevention would be significantly enhanced, for young adolescents in particular, through further recognition and support for interaction between formal and informal m...

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Responsible and controlled use: Older cannabis users and harm reduction

Cited by 87 publications

References 40 publications

A safer alternative: Cannabis substitution as harm reduction

A safer alternative: Cannabis substitution as harm reduction

Prevalence and correlates of “Vaping” as a route of cannabis administration in medical cannabis patients

Evidence‐based policy development for cannabis? Insights on preventing use by youth

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