Do medical cannabis laws encourage cannabis use? DM Gorman, JC HuberJr. Texas A&M

June 27, 2:33 PMPittsburgh History ExaminerDev Meyers

Previous Next

3 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Pittsburgh History Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Title: Do medical cannabis laws encourage cannabis use? 
Personal Authors: Gorman, D. M., Huber, J. C., Jr. 
Author Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA. 
Editors: No editors 
Document Title: International Journal of Drug Policy 
 
Abstract:

Medical cannabis is a contentious issue in the United States, with many fearing that introduction of state laws will increase use among the general population. The present study examined whether the introduction of such laws affects the level of cannabis use among arrestees and emergency department patients. Using the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring system, data from adult arrestees for the period 1995-2002 were examined in three cities in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose), one city in Colorado (Denver), and one city in Oregon (Portland). Data were also analysed for juvenile arrestees in two of the California cities and Portland. Data on emergency department patients from the Drug Abuse Warning Network for the period 1994-2002 were examined in three metropolitan areas in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco), one in Colorado (Denver), and one in Washington State (Seattle). The analysis followed an interrupted time-series design. No statistically significant pre-law versus post-law differences were found in any of the ADAM or DAWN sites. Thus, consistent with other studies of the liberalization of cannabis laws, medical cannabis laws do not appear to increase use of the drug. One reason for this might be that relatively few individuals are registered medical cannabis patients or caregivers. In addition, use of the drag by those already sick might "de-glamorise" it and thereby do little to encourage use among others.