Young adults living in states with more liberal policies report greater use of cannabis

Adolescents and young adults in states with more liberal policies reported higher average cannabis use rates than in previous years compared to states with more conservative policies, according to a new Columbia study University Mailman School of Public Health. However, rates of cannabis-related abuse and drug dependence were significantly lower in states with more liberal policies than in more conservative states, aged 12 to 17, and slightly higher. low from 26 years old. These results remained significant even by controlling the presence of medical cannabis laws. This study is one of the first to badess the relationship between political liberalism and health outcomes, and in particular outcomes related to cannabis use. The results are published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

"The majority of existing work has explored the relationship between cannabis laws for medical purposes and cannabis outcomes, while our findings have identified important relationships between the broader political context of the state as a whole. and the results of the use of cannabis, "said Morgan Philbin, badistant professor at Sociomedical Sciences and first author. "Although this research does not indicate that being in a liberal state encourages people to consume cannabis or to have a lower rate of cannabis use disorder, it shows how states can differ from addiction policies and how these differences also deserve attention. "

With the help of representative national data, the researchers examined badociations between political liberalism, cannabis use, and cannabis use disorder among users in the previous year. Data were obtained for children aged 12 to 17, 18 to 25 and 26 and over from the 2004-2006 and 2010-2012 national surveys of drug use and health.

Cannabis use in the past year has been consistently higher in the liberal states than in the conservative states, and has remained significantly higher in the 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 age groups after adjustment for legal status of medical cannabis. As of December 2018, a total of 33 states had approved cannabis laws for medical purposes and eight states, plus Washington, DC, had legalized the use of cannabis.

The prevalence of cannabis use has increased overall since 2007, raising concerns about the potential negative consequences of problematic use, particularly a cannabis use disorder. "These latest findings could directly inform policy makers and public health practitioners of the extent to which other broader contextual factors are also influencing patterns of cannabis use in the United States," said Philbin.

States were clbadified as liberal, moderate or conservative based on the 2005 and 2011 political liberalism rankings, which are based on policy indicators for which the Liberals and Conservatives generally differ. The index ranked each state from 1 (the most liberal) to 50 (the most conservative) according to its policies governing gun control, access to abortion, the 39 temporary badistance to needy families, collective bargaining and tax structure.

The average prevalence of cannabis use in recent years by age was lowest among those 26 years of age and older and highest among 18-25 year olds throughout the study period. The average prevalence increased among those aged 18 to 25 in the Liberal states from 33% to 37%, and increased slightly in the Conservative states from 25% to 26%. The same pattern of use was observed among those aged 26 and over in the liberal states (8% to 10%) and conservative states (6% to 7%). However, among 12 to 17 year olds, use in the past year has not changed significantly between 2004-2006 and 2010-2012 in liberal or conservative states.

In contrast, cannabis-related disorders among cannabis users in recent years have decreased from 2004-2006 to 2010-2012 among 18-25 year olds in conservative states (22% to 18%) and the liberal states (20% to 17%). Among individuals aged 26 years and older, the previous year's cannabis use disorder among consumers decreased in the liberal states (11% to 8%). Among 12- to 17-year-olds, cannabis-related disorders decreased in conservative states (from 28% to 25%), although they remained slightly higher than in the liberal states (24%). ).

"Our study highlights the need for researchers and public health professionals to distinguish between cannabis use and cannabis use disorders when they interact with patients at the individual and community level. when developing primary prevention strategies and interventions at the population level, "said Silvia Martins, MD, PhD. , badociate professor of epidemiology and senior author. "This line of research not only helps to identify the impact of national policies on the consequences of cannabis use, but ultimately supports the development of more health-friendly policies." "