Document Detail


Do medical cannabis laws encourage cannabis use?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17689362     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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 drug by those already sick might "de-glamorise" it and thereby do little to encourage use among others.
Authors:
Dennis M Gorman; J Charles Huber
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2006-11-15
Journal Detail:
Title:  The International journal on drug policy     Volume:  18     ISSN:  1873-4758     ISO Abbreviation:  Int. J. Drug Policy     Publication Date:  2007 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-08-10     Completed Date:  2007-09-13     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9014759     Medline TA:  Int J Drug Policy     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  160-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA. gorman@srph.tamhsc.edu <gorman@srph.tamhsc.edu>
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
California / epidemiology
Cannabis*
Colorado / epidemiology
Crime / legislation & jurisprudence
Databases, Factual
Drug and Narcotic Control / legislation & jurisprudence*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Health Policy / legislation & jurisprudence*
Humans
Legislation, Drug*
Male
Marijuana Abuse / epidemiology*,  prevention & control
Oregon / epidemiology
Washington / epidemiology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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