State-level medical marijuana laws, marijuana use and perceived availability of marijuana among the general U.S. population

Martins, Sílvia S.; Mauro, Christine; Santaella-Tenorio, Julián; Kim, June H.; Cerdá, Magdalena; Keyes, Katherine M.; Hasin, Deborah S.; Galea, Sandro; Wall, Melanie M.

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.10.004

Cited by 167 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…That same study showed that users varied from between 60% and 73% male. Other estimates from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that marijuana use increased among those over 25 and stayed constant for those age 25 and below in states passing MML [14]. Given this information, we would expect to find the most significant results among middle-aged males.…”

Section: Identifying Occupants Most Likely To Hold MML Cardsmentioning

confidence: 84%

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Seatbelt Use as a Police Avoidance Strategy: A Test Using the Legality of Medical Marijuana

Adams

Cotti

Ullman

2017

Safety

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Abstract:One way to avoid detection of law enforcement officials if you are engaging in illegal activities is to wear a seatbelt. Therefore, an unintended consequence of laws allowing people to possess marijuana for medical purposes is that seatbelt use may decline among groups whose possession of marijuana is now legal. We find a decrease in seatbelt use among middle-aged males, providing evidence that drivers use seatbelts as a means to avoid police interaction. We find no such reduction in seatbelt use among those less likely to possess medical marijuana cards. Our evidence supports the contention that drivers use seatbelts more if they fear interaction with law enforcement officials, which is consistent with evidence of heightened seatbelt use among drunk drivers. These findings are important in understanding how to best design traffic safety laws and enforce them.

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Section: Identifying Occupants Most Likely To Hold MML Cardsmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…We suspect that older males began using marijuana as it became more acceptable, but increased even more as its legal status began to change. Martins and colleagues [14] confirm that the relative surge in use is concentrated among older individuals in states that enacted MML.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Seatbelt Use as a Police Avoidance Strategy: A Test Using the Legality of Medical Marijuana

Adams

Cotti

Ullman

2017

Safety

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“…Wen and colleagues found increases in marijuana use among individuals aged more than 21 years of age in states with MMLs [3]. Martins and colleagues also found increases among adults aged 26+ in states with MMLs compared to states without MMLs [14]. Most recently, Hasin et al 2017 [20] also found increases among adults in states with MML but did not account for variation across states in program regulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If this is the case, states with non-medical programs may bear the brunt of this increase, especially among adults aged more than 25 years. However, the increase in heavy marijuana use may, alternatively, reflect daily use for medical indications under the aegis of MMLs rather than recreational purposes [14,21]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Loose regulation of medical marijuana programs associated with higher rates of adult marijuana use but not cannabis use disorder

et al. 2017

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Background and Aims Most US states have passed medical marijuana laws (MMLs), with great variation in program regulation impacting enrollment rates. We aimed to compare changes in rates of marijuana use, heavy use and cannabis use disorder across age groups while accounting for whether states enacted medicalized (highly regulated) or non-medical mml programs. Design Difference-in-differences estimates with time-varying state-level MML coded by program type (medicalized versus non-medical). Multi-level linear regression models adjusted for state-level random effects and covariates as well as historical trends in use. Setting Nation-wide cross-sectional survey data from the US National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) restricted use data portal aggregated at the state level. Participants Participants comprised 2004–13 NSDUH respondents (n ~ 67 500/year); age groups 12–17, 18–25 and 26+ years. States had implemented eight medicalized and 15 non-medical MML programs. Measurements Primary outcome measures included (1) active (past-month) marijuana use; (2) heavy use (> 300 days/year); and (3) cannabis use disorder diagnosis, based on DSM-IV criteria. Covariates included program type, age group and state-level characteristics throughout the study period. Findings Adults 26+ years of age living in states with non-medical MML programs increased past-month marijuana use 1.46% (from 4.13 to 6.59%, P = 0.01), skewing towards greater heavy marijuana by 2.36% (from 14.94 to 17.30, P = 0.09) after MMLs were enacted. However, no associated increase in the prevalence of cannabis use disorder was found during the study period. Our findings do not show increases in prevalence of marijuana use among adults in states with medicalized MML programs. Additionally, there were no increases in adolescent or young adult marijuana outcomes following MML passage, irrespective of program type. Conclusions Non-medical marijuana laws enacted in US states are associated with increased marijuana use, but only among adults aged 26+ years. Researchers and policymakers should consider program regulation and subgroup characteristics (i.e. demographics) when assessing for population level outcomes. Researchers and policymakers should consider program regulation and subgroup characteristics (i.e. demographics) when assessing for population level outcomes.

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Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cannabis Use Following Legalization in US States With Medical Cannabis Laws

et al. 2021

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IMPORTANCE Little is known about changes in cannabis use outcomes by race and ethnicity following the enactment of recreational cannabis laws (RCLs). OBJECTIVES To examine the association between enactment of state RCLs and changes in cannabis outcomes by race and ethnicity overall and by age groups in the US. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study used restricted use file data from the National Surveys of Drug Use and Health between 2008 and 2017, which were analyzed between September 2019 and March 2020. National survey data included the entire US population older than 12 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Self-reported past-year and past-month cannabis use and, among people that used cannabis, daily past-month cannabis use and past-year Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) cannabis use disorder. Multi-level logistic regressions were fit to estimates changes in cannabis use outcomes by race and ethnicity overall and by age between respondents in states with and without enacted RCLs, controlling for trends in states with medical cannabis laws or no cannabis laws. RESULTS A total of 838 600 participants were included for analysis (mean age, 43 years [range, 12-105 years]; 434 900 women [weighted percentage, 51.5%]; 511 900 participants (weighted percentage, 64.6%) identified as non-Hispanic White, 99 000 (11.9%) as non-Hispanic Black, 78 400 (15.8%) as Hispanic, and 149 200 (7.6%) as other (including either Native American, PacificIslander, Asian, or more than 1 race or ethnicity). Compared with the period before RCL enactment, the odds of past-year cannabis use after RCL enactment increased among Hispanic (adjusted odds

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State-level medical marijuana laws, marijuana use and perceived availability of marijuana among the general U.S. population

Cited by 167 publications

References 36 publications

Seatbelt Use as a Police Avoidance Strategy: A Test Using the Legality of Medical Marijuana

Seatbelt Use as a Police Avoidance Strategy: A Test Using the Legality of Medical Marijuana

Loose regulation of medical marijuana programs associated with higher rates of adult marijuana use but not cannabis use disorder

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cannabis Use Following Legalization in US States With Medical Cannabis Laws

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