{"id":3300,"date":"2021-12-28T14:15:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T14:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiWGh0dHBzOi8vY29uZHVpdHN0cmVldC5tZGNvdW50aWVzLm9yZy8yMDIxLzEyLzI4L3B1YmxpYy1oZWFsdGgtYW5kLWNhbm5hYmlzLWxlZ2FsaXphdGlvbi_SAQA"},"modified":"2021-12-28T14:15:46","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T14:15:46","slug":"public-health-and-cannabis-legalization-conduit-street-conduit-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=3300","title":{"rendered":"Public Health and Cannabis Legalization \u2013 Conduit Street – Conduit Street"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) is very likely taking up the issue of cannabis legalization again, which will require a greater look into its potential public health impacts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) provided an in-depth analysis of the public health ramifications of cannabis legalization in an issue paper,<\/a> examining cannabis use disorder, youth usage, and driving under the influence, among other public health considerations. Cannabis use disorder (CUD) \u201cis a medical diagnosis when an individual has a problematic pattern of cannabis use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.\u201d DLS notes mixed results with respect to CUD after legalization, finding an increase in CUD diagnoses among adolescents in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, but finding a decline in Washington among adults (ages 26 and older) experiencing CUD.<\/p>\n

With respect to youth usage, DLS states, \u201cFindings in Colorado, Washington, and Massachusetts are consistent with national trends in which overall cannabis use among teens in all states has decreased. However, youth perception of the harms associated with cannabis use has also decreased post-legalization.\u201d In Colorado, DLS provided several observations regarding driving under the influence after cannabis legalization:<\/p>\n

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Since legalization, traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled (from 55 in 2013 to 129 in 2019), and the percentage of all traffic deaths that were marijuana-related increased from 15% in 2013 to 25% in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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According to DLS, several states have enacted legislation to address potential health issues arising from the legalization of cannabis including Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, Virginia, and Washington. Connecticut and Washington both require regular reports on the public health impacts of cannabis usage. Examples of policies enacted to counter potentially negative health impacts of cannabis legalization include the following:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n