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

ABSTRACT:

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 st

SUBMITTER: Williams AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5735415 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature