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Manthey J, Rehm J, Verthein U. Germany's cannabis act: a catalyst for European drug policy reform? THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2024; 42:100929. [PMID: 38779298 PMCID: PMC11109464 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
With the enforcement of the Cannabis Act on 1 April 2024, Germany has adopted one of the most liberal legal approaches to cannabis on the continent. The German model prioritises a non-profit approach and precludes legal market mechanisms. We believe these are the main drivers for increasing cannabis use and related health problems, based on observations following cannabis legalisation in Canada and many states in the U.S. Although legalising cannabis possession and cultivation may not immediately eliminate the illegal market, it is expected to serve public health goals. Despite the overall positive evaluation of the Cannabis Act in Germany, there are three potential areas of concern: the potential for misuse of the medical system, the normalization of cannabis use, and the influence of the cannabis industry. The German model may herald the beginning of a new generation of European cannabis policies, but concerted efforts will be required to ensure that these policy reforms serve rather than undermine public health goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Manthey
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstraße 10, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research & Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P8, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Room 2374, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Program on Substance Abuse & WHO CC, 81-95 Roc Boronat St., 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Uwe Verthein
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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Nazif-Munoz JI, Martínez P, Huỳnh C, Massamba V, Zefania I, Rochette L, Vasiliadis HM. Changes in prenatal cannabis-related diagnosed disorders after the Cannabis Act and the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Canada. Addiction 2024. [PMID: 38898560 DOI: 10.1111/add.16564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Public health concerns regarding pregnant women's health after the enactment of the Cannabis Act in Canada (CAC) (a law that allowed non-medical cannabis use), and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, call for a contemporary assessment of these two events. Our study measured associations between the CAC, the COVID-19 pandemic and the monthly prevalence rates of cannabis-, all drug- and alcohol-related diagnosed disorders among pregnant women in the province of Quebec. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS This was a quasi-experimental design applying an interrupted time-series methodology in the province of Quebec, Canada. The participants were pregnant women aged 15-49 years, between January 2010 and July 2022. MEASUREMENTS Administrative health data from the Québec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System were used to classify pregnant women according to cannabis-, all drug (excluding cannabis)- and alcohol-related disorders. The CAC (October 2018) and the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020) were evaluated as (1) slope changes and (2) level changes. Cannabis-, all drug (excluding cannabis)- and alcohol-related disorders were measured by total monthly age-standardized monthly prevalence rate of each disorder for pregnant women aged 15-49 years. FINDINGS Before the CAC, the prevalence rate of cannabis-related diagnosed disorders significantly increased each month by 0.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.3-0.6] in the pregnant population. After the CAC, there were significant increases of 24% (95% CI = 1-53) of cannabis-related diagnosed disorders. No significant changes were observed for all drug (excluding cannabis)- and alcohol-related diagnosed disorders associated with the CAC. A non-significant decrease of 20% (95% CI = -38 to 3) was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in alcohol-related disorders. CONCLUSIONS The monthly incidence rates of diagnosed cannabis-related disorders in pregnant women in Quebec increased significantly following the enactment of the Cannabis Act in Canada. Diagnoses of all drug (excluding cannabis)- and alcohol-related disorders remained relatively stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke-Campus Longueuil, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pablo Martínez
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke-Campus Longueuil, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christophe Huỳnh
- Institut universitaire sur les dépendances, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de psychiatrie et d'addictologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Isaora Zefania
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis Rochette
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Helen-Maria Vasiliadis
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke-Campus Longueuil, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
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Kourgiantakis T, Vicknarajah R, Logan J, Edwards T, Lee E, Craig S, Kaura A, Williams CC, Marshall S. Understanding youth and young adult cannabis use in Canada post-legalization: a scoping review on a public health issue. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2024; 19:30. [PMID: 38886804 PMCID: PMC11184772 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-024-00615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, and one of the primary objectives of the Cannabis Act was to protect youth by reducing their access to cannabis and providing public education. Canada has the highest prevalence of cannabis use worldwide, particularly among youth and young adults under the age of 25. Cannabis use is linked with many adverse effects for youth and young adults including psychosis, anxiety, depression, respiratory distress, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and impaired cognitive performance. Despite the high prevalence of cannabis use and the evolution of policies in Canada and globally, significant knowledge and research gaps remain regarding youth and young adult cannabis use. The aim of this scoping review is to map the extent, nature, and range of evidence available on youth and young adult cannabis use in Canada since its legalization, in order to strengthen policies, services, treatments, training, and public education strategies. METHODS Using a scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley, along with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a rigorous search in five academic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection. We included empirical studies that collected data in Canada after the legalization of recreational cannabis (October 2018) and focused on youth or young adults < 30. Two reviewers independently screened articles in two stages and extracted relevant information from articles meeting the inclusion criteria. RESULTS Of the 47 articles meeting our inclusion criteria, 92% used quantitative methods, 6% were qualitative, and 2% used a mixed-methods approach. Over two-thirds (68%) used secondary data. These studies were categorized into six focus areas: (1) prevalence, patterns, and trends, (2) cannabis-related injuries and emergency department (ED) visits, (3) rates and patterns during the pandemic, (4) perceptions of cannabis use, (5) prevention tools, and (6) cannabis-related offenses. Key findings from the studies reviewed include an increase in cannabis use among 18-24-year-olds post-legalization, with mixed results for youth under 18. ED visits for intentional and unintentional cannabis-related injuries have increased in young children and teens. Perception studies show a mix of concern and normalization of cannabis use. Though limited, prevention studies are promising in raising awareness. A decline in cannabis-related offenses was noted by one study. The review highlights several research gaps, including the need for more qualitative data, disaggregation of demographic data, intervention research, and comprehensive studies on the physical and mental health impacts of cannabis use among youth and young adults. CONCLUSION Maintaining a public health approach is critical, with a focus on reducing the high prevalence of cannabis use among youth and young adults. This involves implementing prevention strategies to minimize harms, enhancing public education, minimizing commercialization, reducing youth access to cannabis, promoting guidelines for lower-risk cannabis use and harm reduction strategies, and increasing training for healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toula Kourgiantakis
- École de travail social et de criminologie, Université Laval, 1030, avenue des Sciences-Humaines, Pavillon Charles-De-Koninck (local 6489), Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Ragave Vicknarajah
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Judith Logan
- John P. Robarts Library, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Travonne Edwards
- School of Child and Youth Care, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eunjung Lee
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shelley Craig
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ashima Kaura
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Charmaine C Williams
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Savannah Marshall
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Martínez P, Huynh C, Massamba V, Zefania I, Rochette L, Vasiliadis HM, Nazif-Munoz JI. Changes in the incidence of cannabis-related disorders after the Cannabis Act and the COVID-19 pandemic in Québec, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024; 129:104484. [PMID: 38870546 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Canadian Cannabis Act (CCA, implemented in October 2018) and the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020) might have contributed to cannabis-related harms in Québec, known for its stringent cannabis legal framework. We explored changes in incidence rates of cannabis-related disorders (CRD) diagnoses associated with these events in Québec. METHODS We utilized linked administrative health data to identify individuals aged 15 year+ newly diagnosed with CRD during hospitalizations, emergency, and outpatients clinics across Québec, from January 2010 and March 2022 (147 months). Interrupted time-series analyses (ITSA) assessed differences (as percentage changes) in sex- and age-standardized, and sex-stratified, monthly incidence rates (per 100,000 population) attributed to the CCA and the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to counterfactual scenarios where pre-events trends would continue unchanged. RESULTS The overall monthly mean rates of incident diagnoses nearly doubled from the pre-CCA period (1.56 per 100,000 population) to the COVID-19 pandemic period (3.02 per 100,000 population). ITSA revealed no statistically significant level or slope changes between adjacent study periods, except for a decrease in the slope of incidence rates among males by 1.84 % (95 % CI -3.41 to -0.24) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the post-CCA period. During the post-CCA period, the trends of incidence rates in the general and male populations grew significantly by 1.22 % (95 % CI 0.08 to 2.35) and 1.44 % (0.04 to 2.84) per month, respectively. Similarly significant increases were observed for the general and female populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, with monthly rates rising by 1.43 % (95 % CI 0.75 to 2.12) and 1.75 % (95 % CI 0.13 to 3.37), respectively. These increases more than doubled pre-CCA rates. CONCLUSIONS The incidence rates of CRD diagnoses across Québec appears to have increased following the implementation of the CCA and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings echo public health concerns regarding potential cannabis-related harms and are consistent with previous Canadian studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Martínez
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke - Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K 0A8, Canada; Centre de Recherche Charles-Le Moyne, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K A08, Canada; Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, 6875 Bd LaSalle, Verdun, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 Wolfe Av., Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Chris Huynh
- Institut Universitaire sur les Dépendances, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 950 rue Louvain Est, Montréal, QC H2M 2E8, Canada
| | - Victoria Massamba
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 Wolfe Av., Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Isaora Zefania
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 Wolfe Av., Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Louis Rochette
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 Wolfe Av., Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Helen-Maria Vasiliadis
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke - Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K 0A8, Canada; Centre de Recherche Charles-Le Moyne, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K A08, Canada
| | - José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke - Campus Longueuil, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K 0A8, Canada; Centre de Recherche Charles-Le Moyne, 150 Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K A08, Canada; Institut Universitaire sur les Dépendances, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 950 rue Louvain Est, Montréal, QC H2M 2E8, Canada.
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Friesen EL, Konikoff L, Dickson S, Myran DT. Geographic clustering of cannabis stores in Canadian cities: A spatial analysis of the legal cannabis market 4 years post-legalisation. Drug Alcohol Rev 2024. [PMID: 38803128 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Following the legalisation of non-medical cannabis in 2018, the number of cannabis stores in Canada has rapidly expanded with limited regulation on their geographic placement. This study characterised the clustering of cannabis stores in Canadian cities and evaluated the association of clustering with provincial policy and sociodemographic variables. METHODS Cross-sectional spatial analysis of cannabis store density in dissemination areas ('neighbourhoods', n = 39,226) in Canadian cities in September 2022. Cannabis store density was defined as the count of stores within 1000 m of a neighbourhood centre. Clusters of high-density cannabis retail were identified using Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation. Associations between provincial policy (privatised vs. public market), sociodemographic variables and cannabis store density were evaluated using multivariable regression. RESULTS Clusters of high-density cannabis retail were identified in 86% of Canadian cities, and neighbourhoods in clusters had a median of 5 stores within 1000 m. Toronto, Canada's most populous city, had the most extreme clustering where neighbourhoods in clusters had a median of 10 stores (and a maximum of 25 stores) within 1000 m. Neighbourhoods in private versus public retail markets had a significantly higher neighbourhood-level density of cannabis stores (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 63.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 25.66-156.33). Lower neighbourhood income quintile was also associated with a higher neighbourhood-level density of cannabis stores (Q5 vs. Q1, aRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17-1.40). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Since cannabis was legalised, clusters of high-density cannabis retail have emerged in most Canadian cities and were more likely to form lower income neighbourhoods and in private retail markets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Loewen Friesen
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- MD/PhD Program, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lauren Konikoff
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sarah Dickson
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Daniel Thomas Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
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Kim C, Bai Y, Allin S, Kirst M, O'Campo P, Ienciu K, Xia X, MacMaster F, Rittenbach K, Chum A. Cannabis legalization and hospitalizations in Alberta: Interrupted time series analysis by age and sex. J Addict Dis 2024:1-4. [PMID: 38764209 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2024.2355370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent research has focused on the effects of legalization on cannabis-related emergency department visits, but the considerable healthcare costs of cannabis-related hospitalizations merit attention. We will examine the association between recreational cannabis legalization and cannabis-related hospitalizations. METHODS A cohort of 3,493,864 adults from Alberta was examined (October 2015-May 2021) over three periods: pre-legalization, post-legalization of flowers and herbs (phase one), and post-legalization of edibles, extracts, and topicals (phase two). Interrupted time series analyses were used to detect changes. RESULTS The study found an increase in hospitalization rates among younger adults (18-24) before legalization, yet no increased risk was associated with cannabis legalization, for either younger (18-24) or older adults (25+). CONCLUSIONS Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk in younger groups and may benefit from early identification and intervention strategies, including screening and brief interventions in primary care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungah Kim
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yihong Bai
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Allin
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maritt Kirst
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia O'Campo
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kristine Ienciu
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xiaoyang Xia
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Frank MacMaster
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Antony Chum
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Sabbineni M, Scott W, Punia K, Manuja K, Singh A, Campbell K, MacKillop J, Balodis I. SAEM GRACE: Dopamine antagonists and topical capsaicin for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome in the emergency department: A systematic review of direct evidence. Acad Emerg Med 2024; 31:493-503. [PMID: 37391387 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adults with cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) are increasingly presenting to the emergency department (ED), and this systematic review will evaluate the direct evidence on the effectiveness of capsaicin and dopamine antagonists in its clinical management. METHODS A bibliographic search was conducted to address the following population-intervention-control-outcome (PICO) question: (P) adults >18 years old with a diagnosis of acute CHS presenting to the ED; (I) dopamine antagonists (e.g., haloperidol, droperidol) and topical capsaicin; (C) usual care or no active comparator; and (O) symptoms improvement/resolution in ED, ED length of stay, admission rate, ED recidivism, need for rescue medication, and adverse events. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA reporting recommendations. RESULTS From 53 potentially relevant articles, seven articles were included: five observational studies and two randomized controlled trials, including a total of 492 patients. Five of these studies evaluated the efficacy of capsaicin cream (n = 386), and two examined dopamine antagonists (haloperidol, droperidol; n = 106). There was mixed evidence for the efficacy of capsaicin for reducing nausea and emesis. Both studies evaluating dopamine antagonists detected clinical benefit to usual care or no active comparator. CONCLUSIONS There is limited direct evidence on the efficacy of dopamine antagonists or capsaicin for treating CHS in the ED. Current evidence is mixed for capsaicin and potentially beneficial for dopamine antagonists. Because of the small number of studies, small number of participants, lack of standardization of treatment administration, and risk of bias of the included studies, methodologically rigorous trials on both types of intervention are needed to directly inform ED management of CHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Sabbineni
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - William Scott
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kiran Punia
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton/McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kriti Manuja
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton/McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angad Singh
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton/McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iris Balodis
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton/McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Myran DT, Gaudreault A, Pugliese M, Tanuseputro P, Saunders N. Cannabis-involvement in emergency department visits for self-harm following medical and non-medical cannabis legalization. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:853-862. [PMID: 38309479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Cannabis use may increase the risk of self-harm, but whether legalization of cannabis is associated with changes in self-harm is unknown. We examined changes in cannabis-involvement in emergency department (ED) visits for self-harm after the liberalization of medical and legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada. METHODS This repeated cross-sectional study used health administrative data to identify all ED visits for self-harm in individuals aged ten and older between January 2010 and December 2021. We identified self-harm ED visits with a co-diagnosis of cannabis (main exposure) or alcohol (control condition) and examined changes in rates of visits over four distinct policy periods (pre-legalization, medical liberalization, non-medical legalization with restrictions, and non-medical commercialization/COVID-19) using Poisson models. RESULTS The study included 158,912 individuals with one or more self-harm ED visits, of which 7810 (4.9 %) individuals had a co-diagnosis of cannabis use and 24,761 (15.6 %) had a co-diagnosis of alcohol use. Between 2010 and 2021, the annual rate of ED visits for self-harm injuries involving cannabis per 100,000 individuals increased by 90.1 % (3.6 in 2010 to 6.9 in 2021 per 100,000 individuals), while the annual rate of self-harm injuries involving alcohol decreased by 17.3 % (168.1 in 2010 to 153.1 in 2021 per 100,000 individuals). The entire increase in visits relative to pre-legalization occurred after medical liberalization (seasonally adjusted Risk Ratio [asRR] 1.71 95 % CI 1.09-1.15) with no further increases during the legalization with restrictions (asRR 1.77 95%CI 1.62-1.93) or commercialization/COVID-19 periods (asRR 1.63 95%CI 1.50-176). CONCLUSIONS Cannabis-involvement in self-harm ED visits almost doubled over 12 years and may have accelerated after medical cannabis liberalization. While the results cannot determine whether cannabis is increasingly causing self-harm ED visits or whether cannabis is increasingly being used by individuals at high risk of self-harm, greater detection for cannabis use in this population and intervention may be indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Myran
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Adrienne Gaudreault
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Pugliese
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natasha Saunders
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Cantor N, Silverman M, Gaudreault A, Hutton B, Brown C, Elton-Marshall T, Imtiaz S, Sikora L, Tanuseputro P, Myran DT. The association between physical availability of cannabis retail outlets and frequent cannabis use and related health harms: a systematic review. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2024; 32:100708. [PMID: 38486811 PMCID: PMC10937151 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2024.100708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
An increasing number of regions have or are considering legalising the sale of cannabis for adult use. Experience from tobacco and alcohol regulation has found that greater access to physical retail stores is positively associated with increased substance use and harm. Whether this association exists for cannabis is unclear. We completed a systematic review examining the association between cannabis retail store access and adverse health outcomes. We identified articles up until July 20, 2023 by searching four databases. We included studies examining the association between measures of cannabis store access and adverse outcomes: frequent or problematic cannabis use, healthcare encounters due to cannabis use (e.g., cannabis-induced psychosis), and healthcare encounters potentially related to cannabis (e.g., self-harm episodes). Results were compared by study design type, retail access measure, and by subgroups including: children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and pregnant individuals. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021281788). The search generated 5750 citations of which we included 32 studies containing 44 unique primary analyses (unique retail measure and outcome pairs). Studies come from 4 countries (United States, Canada, Netherlands and Uruguay). Among the included analyses, there were consistent positive associations between greater cannabis retail access and 1) increased healthcare service use or poison control calls directly due to cannabis (10/12 analyses; 83%) (2) increased cannabis use and cannabis-related hospitalization during pregnancy (4/4; 100%) and 3) frequent cannabis use in adults and young adults (7/11; 64%). There was no consistent positive association between greater cannabis retail and increased frequent cannabis use in adolescents (1/4; 25%), healthcare service use potentially related to cannabis (2/6; 33%) or increased adverse neonatal birth outcomes (2/7; 26.8%). There is a positive association between greater cannabis store access and increases in cannabis harm. In countries with legal cannabis, retail restrictions may reduce use and harm. Funding Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Cantor
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 90 Main St W Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
| | - Max Silverman
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 90 Main St W Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
| | - Adrienne Gaudreault
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Hutton
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine Brown
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, ON, Canada
| | - Tara Elton-Marshall
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, ON, Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 6th Floor, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON SN 1006, Canada
| | - Sameer Imtiaz
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lindsey Sikora
- University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Avenue East, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, ON, Canada
- Bruyere Research Institute, 85 Primrose Ave, ON, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel T. Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
- Bruyere Research Institute, 85 Primrose Ave, ON, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, ON, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, ON, Canada
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10
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Roberts E. What impact could the legalisation of recreational cannabis have on the health of the UK? Lessons from the rest of the world. Br J Psychiatry 2024; 224:117-118. [PMID: 38268114 PMCID: PMC7615739 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2024.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Several jurisdictions across the globe have introduced legislation to legally permit the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis. This editorial considers current evidence from the rest of the world and asks how this might inform the possible consequences of 'legalisation' models in the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmert Roberts
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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11
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Hall W, Manthey J, Stjepanović D. Cannabis use and cannabis use disorders and their treatment in the Europe. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01776-1. [PMID: 38489067 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
This paper introduces the special issue on cannabis use in Europe. It describes data on the prevalence of cannabis use in Europe and the more limited data on the prevalence of cannabis use disorders, one of the most common forms of drug problem treated in many countries in Europe. It summarises what research has indicated about the adverse effects of acute and chronic cannabis use and discusses potential health system responses that may reduce some of these harms. These include public education about the risks of cannabis use; screening and brief interventions in primary medical settings; and specialist treatment for cannabis use disorders. It briefly indicates the special issues that may need to be addressed in dealing with the high rates of comorbidity between cannabis use disorders, other types of drug use disorders, and common mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Hall
- The National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
| | - Jakob Manthey
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel Stjepanović
- The National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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12
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Wootten JC, Rodrigues R, Gilliland J, Carter B, Shariff SZ, Zhong S, Archie S, Edwards J, Elton-Marshall T, Myran DT, Palaniyappan L, Perlman CM, Seabrook JA, Murray RM, Anderson KK. The effect of non-medical cannabis retailer proximity on use of mental health services for psychotic disorders in Ontario, Canada. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2024; 70:308-318. [PMID: 37886802 DOI: 10.1177/00207640231206053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis is associated with the onset and persistence of psychotic disorders. Evidence suggests that accessibility of substances is associated with an increased risk of use-related harms. We sought to examine the effect of residing in proximity to non-medical cannabis retailers on the prevalence of health service use for psychosis. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study using linked health administrative data, and used geospatial analyses to determine whether people in Ontario, Canada (aged 14-60 years) resided within walking (1.6 km) or driving (5.0 km) distance of non-medical cannabis retailers (open as of February-2020). We identified outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for psychotic disorders between 01-April-2019 and 17-March-2020. We used zero-inflated Poisson regression models and gamma generalized linear models to estimate the association between cannabis retailer proximity and indicators of health service use. RESULTS Non-medical cannabis retailers were differentially located in areas with high levels of marginalization and pre-existing health service use for psychosis. People residing within walking or driving distance of a cannabis retailer had a higher rate of psychosis-related outpatient visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations, compared to people living outside these areas. This effect was stronger among those with no prior service use for psychosis. CONCLUSIONS Proximity to a non-medical cannabis retailer was associated with higher health service use for psychosis, even after adjustment for prior health service use. These findings suggest that opening of non-medical cannabis retailers could worsen the burden of psychosis on mental health services in areas with high-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared C Wootten
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca Rodrigues
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, ON, Canada
| | | | - Salimah Z Shariff
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, ON, Canada
- ICES Western, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Shiran Zhong
- Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Suzanne Archie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jordan Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tara Elton-Marshall
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Institute of Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Thomas Myran
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, ON, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, ON, Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Canada
| | | | - Jamie A Seabrook
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, ON, Canada
- School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, ON, Canada
| | - Robin M Murray
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Kelly K Anderson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, ON, Canada
- ICES Western, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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13
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Anderson KK, Rodrigues R, Le B, Mamun M, Archie S, Edwards J, Elton-Marshall T, Gilliland J, Myran DT, Palaniyappan L, Perlman CM, Seabrook JA, Murray RM, Shariff SZ. Impact of non-medical cannabis legalization with market restrictions on health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder in Ontario, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024; 123:104285. [PMID: 38071933 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis is a risk factor in the onset and persistence of psychotic disorders. There is concern that non-medical cannabis legalization in Canada may have population-level impacts on psychotic disorders. We sought to examine changes in health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder following cannabis legalization, during a period of tight restrictions on retail stores and product types. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional interrupted time-series analysis using linked population-based health administrative data from Ontario (Canada) from January 2014 to March 2020. We identified psychosis-related outpatient visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and inpatient length of stay, as well as incident cases of psychotic disorders, among people aged 14 to 60 years. RESULTS We did not find evidence of increases in health service use or incident cases of psychotic disorders over the short-term (17 month) period following cannabis legalization. However, we found clear increasing trends in health service use and incident cases of substance-induced psychotic disorders over the entire observation window (2014-2020). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the initial period of tight market restriction following legalization of non-medical cannabis was not associated with an increase in health service use or frequency of psychotic disorders. A longer post-legalization observation period, which includes expansion of the commercial cannabis market, is needed to fully understand the population-level impacts of non-medical cannabis legalization; thus, it would be premature to conclude that the legalization of non-medical cannabis did not lead to increases in health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly K Anderson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; ICES Western, London ON Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, London ON Canada.
| | - Rebecca Rodrigues
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada
| | | | - Maliha Mamun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada
| | - Suzanne Archie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton ON Canada
| | - Jordan Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton ON Canada
| | - Tara Elton-Marshall
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON Canada; Institute of Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto ON Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London ON Canada
| | - Daniel Thomas Myran
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa ON Canada; ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal ON Canada
| | | | - Jamie A Seabrook
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London ON Canada; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London ON Canada
| | - Robin M Murray
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Salimah Z Shariff
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London ON Canada; ICES Western, London ON Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, London ON Canada
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14
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Voci S, Veldhuizen S, Ivanova A, Melamed OC, Selby P, Zawertailo L. Cannabis Use Among Adults in Cigarette Smoking Cessation Treatment in Ontario, Canada: Prevalence and Association With Tobacco Cessation Outcome, 2015-2021. Am J Public Health 2024; 114:98-107. [PMID: 38091559 PMCID: PMC10726933 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To examine cannabis use prevalence and its association with tobacco cessation among adults enrolled in cigarette smoking cessation treatment before and after Canada legalized recreational cannabis in October 2018. Methods. The sample comprised 83 206 adults enrolled in primary care-based cigarette smoking cessation treatment between 2015 and 2021 in Ontario, Canada. Past-30-day cannabis use was self-reported at enrollment and cigarette smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Results. Past-30-day prevalence of cannabis use increased from 20.2% in 2015 to 37.7% in 2021. The prevalence increased linearly both before and after legalization. Cannabis and tobacco co-use was associated with lower odds of self-reported cigarette smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up than tobacco use only (24.4% vs 29.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.75, 0.81). This association was attenuated after adjustment for covariates (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89, 0.97) and weakened slightly over time. Conclusions. Cannabis use prevalence almost doubled from 2015 to 2021 among primary care patients in Ontario seeking treatment to quit cigarettes and was associated with poorer quit outcomes. Further research into the impact of cannabis policy on cannabis and tobacco co-use is warranted to mitigate harm. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(1):98-107. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307445).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Voci
- Sabrina Voci, Scott Veldhuizen, and Anna Ivanova are with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Osnat C. Melamed is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Peter Selby is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Laurie Zawertailo is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto
| | - Scott Veldhuizen
- Sabrina Voci, Scott Veldhuizen, and Anna Ivanova are with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Osnat C. Melamed is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Peter Selby is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Laurie Zawertailo is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto
| | - Anna Ivanova
- Sabrina Voci, Scott Veldhuizen, and Anna Ivanova are with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Osnat C. Melamed is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Peter Selby is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Laurie Zawertailo is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto
| | - Osnat C Melamed
- Sabrina Voci, Scott Veldhuizen, and Anna Ivanova are with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Osnat C. Melamed is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Peter Selby is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Laurie Zawertailo is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto
| | - Peter Selby
- Sabrina Voci, Scott Veldhuizen, and Anna Ivanova are with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Osnat C. Melamed is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Peter Selby is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Laurie Zawertailo is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto
| | - Laurie Zawertailo
- Sabrina Voci, Scott Veldhuizen, and Anna Ivanova are with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Osnat C. Melamed is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Peter Selby is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Laurie Zawertailo is with the INTREPID Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto
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15
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Kim C, Dusing GJ, Nielsen A, MacMaster FP, Rittenbach K, Allin S, O'Campo P, Penney TL, Hamilton HA, Kirst M, Chum A. Disparities in cannabis-related emergency department visits across depressed and non-depressed individuals and the impact of recreational cannabis policy in Ontario, Canada. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7127-7137. [PMID: 37345465 PMCID: PMC10719623 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723000569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recreational cannabis policies are being considered in many jurisdictions internationally. Given that cannabis use is more prevalent among people with depression, legalisation may lead to more adverse events in this population. Cannabis legalisation in Canada included the legalisation of flower and herbs (phase 1) in October 2018, and the deregulation of cannabis edibles one year later (phase 2). This study investigated disparities in cannabis-related emergency department (ED) visits in depressed and non-depressed individuals in each phase. METHODS Using administrative data, we identified all adults diagnosed with depression 60 months prior to legalisation (n = 929 844). A non-depressed comparison group was identified using propensity score matching. We compared the pre-post policy differences in cannabis-related ED-visits in depressed individuals v. matched (and unmatched) non-depressed individuals. RESULTS In the matched sample (i.e. comparison with non-depressed people similar to the depressed group), people with depression had approximately four times higher risk of cannabis-related ED-visits relative to the non-depressed over the entire period. Phases 1 and 2 were not associated with any changes in the matched depressed and non-depressed groups. In the unmatched sample (i.e. comparison with the non-depressed general population), the disparity between individuals with and without depression is greater. While phase 1 was associated with an immediate increase in ED-visits among the general population, phase 2 was not associated with any changes in the unmatched depressed and non-depressed groups. CONCLUSIONS Depression is a risk factor for cannabis-related ED-visits. Cannabis legalisation did not further elevate the risk among individuals diagnosed with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungah Kim
- Faculty of Health, York University, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabriel John Dusing
- Faculty of Health, York University, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Nielsen
- Canadian Institute for Health Information, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frank P. MacMaster
- University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katherine Rittenbach
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Psychiatry Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
| | - Sara Allin
- University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Patricia O'Campo
- St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tarra L. Penney
- Faculty of Health, York University, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Maritt Kirst
- Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antony Chum
- Faculty of Health, York University, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario
- St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Manthey J, Armstrong MJ, Hayer T, Myran DT, Pacula RL, Queirolo R, Rehm J, Wirth M, Zobel F. How to interpret studies on the impact of legalizing cannabis. Addiction 2023; 118:2242-2243. [PMID: 37544768 DOI: 10.1111/add.16314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Manthey
- Centre of Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael J Armstrong
- Department of Finance, Operations and Information Systems, Brock University, St Catharines, Canada
| | - Tobias Hayer
- Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department for Health and Society, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Daniel T Myran
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
- Price School of Public Policy and Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, University of Southern California, California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Rosario Queirolo
- Department of Social Sciences, Universidad Católica del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization Collaborating Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Centre of Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Program on Substance Abuse and designated WHO CC, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marielle Wirth
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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17
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Hall W, Stjepanović D, Dawson D, Leung J. The implementation and public health impacts of cannabis legalization in Canada: a systematic review. Addiction 2023; 118:2062-2072. [PMID: 37380613 PMCID: PMC10953418 DOI: 10.1111/add.16274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We provide a narrative summary of research on changes in cannabis arrests, cannabis products and prices, cannabis use and cannabis-related harm since legalization. METHODS We systematically searched for research on the impacts of cannabis legalization in Canada in PubMed, Embase, Statistics Canada and government websites and Google Scholar, published between 2006 and 2021. RESULTS Cannabis legalization in Canada has been followed by substantial reductions in cannabis-related arrests and cannabis prices. It has also increased adults' access to a diverse range of cannabis products, including edibles and extracts. The prevalence of cannabis use among young adults has increased, but there have been no marked increases or decreases in use among high school students or changes in the prevalence of daily or near-daily use. Legalization has been associated with increased adult hospital attendances for psychiatric distress and vomiting, unintentional ingestion of edible cannabis products by children and hospitalizations for cannabis use disorders in adults. There is conflicting evidence on whether cannabis-impaired driving has increased since legalization. There is suggestive evidence that presentations to emergency departments with psychoses and cannabis use disorders may have increased since legalization. CONCLUSIONS Legalization of cannabis in Canada appears to have reduced cannabis arrests and increased access to a variety of more potent cannabis products at lower prices. Since 2019, recent cannabis use in Canada has modestly increased among adults but not among adolescents. There is evidence of increased acute adverse effects of cannabis among adults and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Hall
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use ResearchThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Daniel Stjepanović
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use ResearchThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Danielle Dawson
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use ResearchThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Janni Leung
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use ResearchThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
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Myran DT, Pugliese M, Roberts RL, Solmi M, Perlman CM, Fiedorowicz J, Tanuseputro P, Anderson KK. Association between non-medical cannabis legalization and emergency department visits for cannabis-induced psychosis. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4251-4260. [PMID: 37500826 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02185-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
A major public health concern of cannabis legalization is that it may result in an increase in psychotic disorders. We examined changes in emergency department (ED) visits for cannabis-induced psychosis following the legalization and subsequent commercialization (removal of restrictions on retail stores and product types) of non-medical cannabis in Ontario, Canada (population of 14.3 million). We used health administrative data containing the cause of all ED visits to examine changes over three periods; 1) pre-legalization (January 2014-September 2018); 2) legalization with restrictions (October 2018 - February 2020); and 3) commercialization (March 2020 - September 2021). We considered subgroups stratified by age and sex and examined cocaine- and methamphetamine-induced psychosis ED visits as controls. During our study, there were 6300 ED visits for cannabis-induced psychosis. The restricted legalization period was not associated with changes in rates of ED visits for cannabis-induced psychosis relative to pre-legalization. The commercialization period was associated with an immediate increase in rates of ED visits for cannabis-induced psychosis (IRR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66) and no gradual monthly change; immediate increases were seen only for youth above (IRR 1.63, 1.27-2.08, ages 19-24) but not below (IRR 0.73 95%CI 0.42-1.28 ages, 15-18) the legal age of purchase, and similar for men and women. Commercialization was not associated with changes in rates of ED visits for cocaine- or methamphetamine-induced psychosis. This suggests that legalization with store and product restrictions does not increase ED visits for cannabis-induced psychosis. In contrast, cannabis commercialization may increase cannabis-induced psychosis presentations highlighting the importance of preventive measures in regions considering legalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Michael Pugliese
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rhiannon L Roberts
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Marco Solmi
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jess Fiedorowicz
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Neurosciences, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kelly K Anderson
- Departments of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- ICES Western, London, ON, Canada
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Bahji A, Socias ME, Bach P, Milloy M. Implications of Cannabis Legalization on Substance-Related Benefits and Harms for People Who Use Opioids: A Canadian Perspective. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:699-702. [PMID: 37001172 PMCID: PMC10623062 DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2018, Canada enacted the Cannabis Act, becoming only the second country (after Uruguay) to legalize the recreational consumption of cannabis. Although there is ongoing global disagreement on the risk-benefit profile of cannabis with increasing legalization in many parts of the world, the evidence of rising cannabis use prevalence postlegalization has been consistent. In contrast, postlegalization changes in various cannabis-related metrics have been inconsistent in Canada and other parts of the world. Furthermore, the implications of cannabis legalization on substance-related harms and benefits for people who use unregulated drugs, particularly opioids, remain unclear. Finally, although Canada did not legalize cannabis to address the opioid crisis, there is rising scientific and popular interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis to mitigate opioid-related harms. This perspective highlights the implications of cannabis legalization on substance-related benefits and harms for people who use opioids, the current state of Canadian research, and suggestions for future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anees Bahji
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
| | - M. Eugenia Socias
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Paxton Bach
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - M.J. Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Bayat A, Mansell H, Taylor J, Szafron M, Mansell K. The development of a Cannabis Knowledge Assessment Tool (CKAT). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291113. [PMID: 37656712 PMCID: PMC10473536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Misconceptions about the health risks of cannabis remain prevalent, indicating the need to improve public health messaging and determine the effectiveness of educational programming. Our objective was to develop a standardized questionnaire to measure knowledge about cannabis in the context of cannabis legalization. METHODS A Cannabis Knowledge Assessment Tool (CKAT) was created using the Delphi method. A purposive sample of healthcare professionals, policymakers, academics, patients, and students served as the content and development experts. Principal component analysis from the codes identified from open-ended feedback guided the item development. Upon completion, the CKAT was administered as a pre- and post-test in four schools (7th and 9th Grade) in Canada. The data were analysed to determine whether knowledge scores changed after participating in a cannabis education program. RESULTS Twenty-four experts initially participated in the Delphi process and 18 (75% retention) continued throughout. Principal component analysis identified 3 domains: 1) effects of cannabis on the individual, 2) general information about cannabis, and 3) cannabis harm reduction. The final questionnaire consisted of 16 multiple-true-false questions (64 items) and received a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of 6.3, and a SMOG index score of 7.6. The CKAT was completed by 132 students; seventy-three 7th grade and fifty-nine 9th grade students. The baseline mean CKAT score was 46.2 (SD:5.5), which increased to 50.7 (SD:4.6) after the cannabis educational program (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS A novel tool to measure knowledge of cannabis was developed and piloted in 7th grade and 9th grade students. Future studies are required to test usability and validity of the CKAT in other contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Bayat
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Holly Mansell
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Jeff Taylor
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Michael Szafron
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kerry Mansell
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Solmi M, De Toffol M, Kim JY, Choi MJ, Stubbs B, Thompson T, Firth J, Miola A, Croatto G, Baggio F, Michelon S, Ballan L, Gerdle B, Monaco F, Simonato P, Scocco P, Ricca V, Castellini G, Fornaro M, Murru A, Vieta E, Fusar-Poli P, Barbui C, Ioannidis JPA, Carvalho AF, Radua J, Correll CU, Cortese S, Murray RM, Castle D, Shin JI, Dragioti E. Balancing risks and benefits of cannabis use: umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. BMJ 2023; 382:e072348. [PMID: 37648266 PMCID: PMC10466434 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-072348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically assess credibility and certainty of associations between cannabis, cannabinoids, and cannabis based medicines and human health, from observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). DESIGN Umbrella review. DATA SOURCES PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase, up to 9 February 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies and RCTs that have reported on the efficacy and safety of cannabis, cannabinoids, or cannabis based medicines were included. Credibility was graded according to convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or not significant (observational evidence), and by GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) (RCTs). Quality was assessed with AMSTAR 2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2). Sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS 101 meta-analyses were included (observational=50, RCTs=51) (AMSTAR 2 high 33, moderate 31, low 32, or critically low 5). From RCTs supported by high to moderate certainty, cannabis based medicines increased adverse events related to the central nervous system (equivalent odds ratio 2.84 (95% confidence interval 2.16 to 3.73)), psychological effects (3.07 (1.79 to 5.26)), and vision (3.00 (1.79 to 5.03)) in people with mixed conditions (GRADE=high), improved nausea/vomit, pain, spasticity, but increased psychiatric, gastrointestinal adverse events, and somnolence among others (GRADE=moderate). Cannabidiol improved 50% reduction of seizures (0.59 (0.38 to 0.92)) and seizure events (0.59 (0.36 to 0.96)) (GRADE=high), but increased pneumonia, gastrointestinal adverse events, and somnolence (GRADE=moderate). For chronic pain, cannabis based medicines or cannabinoids reduced pain by 30% (0.59 (0.37 to 0.93), GRADE=high), across different conditions (n=7), but increased psychological distress. For epilepsy, cannabidiol increased risk of diarrhoea (2.25 (1.33 to 3.81)), had no effect on sleep disruption (GRADE=high), reduced seizures across different populations and measures (n=7), improved global impression (n=2), quality of life, and increased risk of somnolence (GRADE=moderate). In the general population, cannabis worsened positive psychotic symptoms (5.21 (3.36 to 8.01)) and total psychiatric symptoms (7.49 (5.31 to 10.42)) (GRADE=high), negative psychotic symptoms, and cognition (n=11) (GRADE=moderate). In healthy people, cannabinoids improved pain threshold (0.74 (0.59 to 0.91)), unpleasantness (0.60 (0.41 to 0.88)) (GRADE=high). For inflammatory bowel disease, cannabinoids improved quality of life (0.34 (0.22 to 0.53) (GRADE=high). For multiple sclerosis, cannabinoids improved spasticity, pain, but increased risk of dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, somnolence (GRADE=moderate). For cancer, cannabinoids improved sleep disruption, but had gastrointestinal adverse events (n=2) (GRADE=moderate). Cannabis based medicines, cannabis, and cannabinoids resulted in poor tolerability across various conditions (GRADE=moderate). Evidence was convincing from observational studies (main and sensitivity analyses) in pregnant women, small for gestational age (1.61 (1.41 to 1.83)), low birth weight (1.43 (1.27 to 1.62)); in drivers, car crash (1.27 (1.21 to 1.34)); and in the general population, psychosis (1.71 (1.47 to 2.00)). Harmful effects were noted for additional neonatal outcomes, outcomes related to car crash, outcomes in the general population including psychotic symptoms, suicide attempt, depression, and mania, and impaired cognition in healthy cannabis users (all suggestive to highly suggestive). CONCLUSIONS Convincing or converging evidence supports avoidance of cannabis during adolescence and early adulthood, in people prone to or with mental health disorders, in pregnancy and before and while driving. Cannabidiol is effective in people with epilepsy. Cannabis based medicines are effective in people with multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, inflammatory bowel disease, and in palliative medicine but not without adverse events. STUDY REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42018093045. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Solmi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, ON, Canada
- On Track: The Champlain First Episode Psychosis Program, Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical detection Lab, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health-Developmental Lab, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, and NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco De Toffol
- Psychiatry Unit, Veris Delli Ponti Scorrano Hospital, Department of Mental Health, ASL Lecce, Lecce, Italy
| | - Jong Yeob Kim
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Je Choi
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Brendon Stubbs
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Trevor Thompson
- Centre of Chronic Illness and Ageing, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Joseph Firth
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Alessandro Miola
- Neurosciences Department, Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni Croatto
- Mental Health Department, AULSS 3 Serenissima, Mestre, Venice, Italy
| | - Francesca Baggio
- Mental Health Department, AULSS 3 Serenissima, Mestre, Venice, Italy
| | - Silvia Michelon
- Department of Mental Health, AULSS 7 Pedemontana Veneto, Italy
| | - Luca Ballan
- Department of Mental Health, AULSS 7 Pedemontana Veneto, Italy
| | - Björn Gerdle
- Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Francesco Monaco
- Department of Mental Health, Asl Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Simonato
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Paolo Scocco
- Mental Health Department, ULSS 6 Euganea, Padova, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Fornaro
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Murru
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical detection Lab, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Corrado Barbui
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - John P A Ioannidis
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Meta-Research Innovation Center Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Data Science, and of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrè F Carvalho
- IMPACT - The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christoph U Correll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Samuele Cortese
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health-Developmental Lab, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, and NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences (Central Nervous System and Psychiatry), Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
- Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York University Child Study Center, New York City, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robin M Murray
- Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College of London, London, UK
| | - David Castle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS, Australia
- Co-Director, Centre for Mental Health Service Innovation, Department of Health, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Severance Underwood Meta-research Center, Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Elena Dragioti
- Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Research Laboratory Psychology of Patients, Families and Health Professionals, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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Cohen N, Mathew M, Brent J, Wax P, Davis AL, Obilom C, Burns MM, Canning J, Baumgartner K, Koons AL, Wiegand TJ, Judge B, Hoyte C, Chenoweth JA, Froberg B, Farrar H, Carey JL, Hendrickson RG, Hodgman M, Caravati EM, Christian MR, Wolk BJ, Seifert SA, Bentur Y, Levine M, Farrugia LA, Vearrier D, Minns AB, Kennedy JM, Kirschner RI, Aldy K, Schuh S, Campleman S, Li S, Myran DT, Feng L, Freedman SB, Finkelstein Y. Severe outcomes following pediatric cannabis intoxication: a prospective cohort study of an international toxicology surveillance registry. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2023; 61:591-598. [PMID: 37603042 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2023.2238121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An increasing number of jurisdictions have legalized recreational cannabis for adult use. The subsequent availability and marketing of recreational cannabis has led to a parallel increase in rates and severity of pediatric cannabis intoxications. We explored predictors of severe outcomes in pediatric patients who presented to the emergency department with cannabis intoxication. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, we collected data on all pediatric patients (<18 years) who presented with cannabis intoxication from August 2017 through June 2020 to participating sites in the Toxicology Investigators Consortium. In cases that involved polysubstance exposure, patients were included if cannabis was a significant contributing agent. The primary outcome was a composite severe outcome endpoint, defined as an intensive care unit admission or in-hospital death. Covariates included relevant sociodemographic and exposure characteristics. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-eight pediatric patients (54% males, median age 14.0 years, interquartile range 3.7-16.0) presented to a participating emergency department with cannabis intoxication. Fifty-two patients (38%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, including one patient who died. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, polysubstance ingestion (adjusted odds ratio = 16.3; 95% confidence interval: 4.6-58.3; P < 0.001)) and cannabis edibles ingestion (adjusted odds ratio = 5.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.9-15.9; P = 0.001) were strong independent predictors of severe outcome. In an age-stratified regression analysis, in children older than >10 years, only polysubstance abuse remained an independent predictor for the severe outcome (adjusted odds ratio 37.1; 95% confidence interval: 6.2-221.2; P < 0.001). As all children 10 years and younger ingested edibles, a dedicated multivariable analysis could not be performed (unadjusted odds ratio 3.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-6.7). CONCLUSIONS Severe outcomes occurred for different reasons and were largely associated with the patient's age. Young children, all of whom were exposed to edibles, were at higher risk of severe outcomes. Teenagers with severe outcomes were frequently involved in polysubstance exposure, while psychosocial factors may have played a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Cohen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mathew Mathew
- Division of Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Brent
- Departments of Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Toxicology Associates, Littleton, USA
| | - Paul Wax
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Adrienne L Davis
- Division of Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Cherie Obilom
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Joshua Canning
- Department of Medical Toxicology, Banner - University Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Kevin Baumgartner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrew L Koons
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, USF Morsani College of Medicine, Allentown, PA, USA
| | - Timothy J Wiegand
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Bryan Judge
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Christopher Hoyte
- Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - James A Chenoweth
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Blake Froberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Henry Farrar
- Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | | | - Michael Hodgman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - E Martin Caravati
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Brian J Wolk
- Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Steven A Seifert
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Yedidia Bentur
- Rambam Health Care Campus, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michael Levine
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lynn A Farrugia
- UF Health Shands Hospital, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David Vearrier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Alicia B Minns
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Joseph M Kennedy
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | | | - Kim Aldy
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Suzanne Schuh
- Division of Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Shao Li
- American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Lisa Feng
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephen B Freedman
- Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Yaron Finkelstein
- Division of Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
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23
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Walker M, Carpino M, Lightfoot D, Rossi E, Tang M, Mann R, Saarela O, Cusimano MD. The effect of recreational cannabis legalization and commercialization on substance use, mental health, and injury: a systematic review. Public Health 2023; 221:87-96. [PMID: 37429043 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) and/or recreational cannabis commercialization (RCC) on emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to substance use, injury, and mental health among those aged 11 years and older. METHODS A systematic review of six electronic databases up to February 1, 2023. Original, peer-reviewed articles with interrupted time series or before and after designs were included. Four independent reviewers screened articles and assessed risk of bias. Outcomes with 'critical' risk of bias were excluded. Protocol registered on PROSPERO (# CRD42021265183). RESULTS After screening and risk of bias assessment, 29 studies were included which examined ED visits or hospitalizations for cannabis use or alcohol (N = 10), opioid mortality (N = 3), motor vehicle fatalities or injury (N = 11), and intentional injury/mental health (N = 5). Rates or number of cannabis-related hospitalizations increased after RCL in Canada and the USA. Immediate increases in rates of cannabis-related ED visits were found after both RCL and RCC in Canada. Rates of traffic fatalities increased after RCL and RCC in certain jurisdictions in the USA. CONCLUSIONS RCL was associated with increased rates of cannabis-related hospitalizations. RCL and/or RCC was associated with increased rates of cannabis-related ED visits, consistently shown across sex and age groups. The effect on fatal motor vehicle incidents was mixed, with observed increases found after RCL and/or RCC. The effect of RCL or RCC on opioids, alcohol, intentional injury, and mental health is not clear. These results inform population health initiatives and international jurisdictions considering RCL implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Walker
- Injury Prevention Research Office, Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Carpino
- Injury Prevention Research Office, Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - D Lightfoot
- Health Sciences Library, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - E Rossi
- Injury Prevention Research Office, Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Tang
- Injury Prevention Research Office, Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - R Mann
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - O Saarela
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M D Cusimano
- Injury Prevention Research Office, Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Kalayasiri R, Boonthae S. Trends of cannabis use and related harms before and after legalization for recreational purpose in a developing country in Asia. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:911. [PMID: 37208663 PMCID: PMC10197039 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15883-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thailand was the first country in Asia to legalize the use and purchase of cannabis leaves in February 2021 and the whole plant in June 2022 after the 2019 allowance for medical purposes. The study explored trends in cannabis use in Thailand before and after the recreational cannabis allowance was imposed. METHODS Cannabis and other variables of substance use, cannabis use disorder, and attitude towards cannabis of the Thai population aged 18 to 65 years in 2019 (n = 5,002), 2020 (n = 5,389) and 2021 (n = 5,669) were obtained from annual surveys conducted in the last two months of each year by the Centre for Addiction Studies. The surveys were repeat cross-sectional surveys of the general population of Thailand. Repeated variables from at least two annual surveys were included for analysis using the Chi-square test and the t-test. RESULTS The prevalence of cannabis use in the past year had increased from 2.2% in 2019 to 2.5% and 4.2% in 2020 and 2021 respectively, while those of methamphetamine, alcohol, and tobacco use had decreased. Trends in past-year drinking/eating cannabis products had increased, especially among the middle age group (40-49 years) from 2.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 3.1) in 2019 and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.6, 1.9) in 2020 to 3.8% (95% CI: 2.8, 5.0) in 2021. The younger population aged 18-19 had an increase in cannabis smoking from 0.9% (95% CI: 0.1, 3.3) in 2019 to 2.0% (95% CI: 0.5, 5.1) and 2.2% (95% CI: 0.7, 5.1) in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Symptoms of cannabis use disorder among cannabis users increased from 2019 to 2020 and then reversed afterwards in 2021. Thais had greater health knowledge about the benefits and harms of cannabis and had attitudes toward more harm of cannabis in 2021; however, 35.6% or a third of the sample in 2021 truly believed that cannabis was a cure for cancer, and 23.2% or one-fourth were uncertain or did not believe that cannabis was addictive. CONCLUSIONS Although most of the substances had a lower prevalence of use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, cannabis had a higher use after legalization. Thai youth had a growing trend to smoke cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmon Kalayasiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders and Mental Health Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
- Department of Psychiatry, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Suriyan Boonthae
- Research Centre for Social and Business Development, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
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Farrelly KN, Wardell JD, Marsden E, Scarfe ML, Najdzionek P, Turna J, MacKillop J. The Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Cannabis Use and Associated Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Subst Abuse 2023; 17:11782218231172054. [PMID: 37187466 PMCID: PMC10176789 DOI: 10.1177/11782218231172054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Recreational cannabis legalization has become more prevalent over the past decade, increasing the need to understand its impact on downstream health-related outcomes. Although prior reviews have broadly summarized research on cannabis liberalization policies (including decriminalization and medical legalization), directed efforts are needed to synthesize the more recent research that focuses on recreational cannabis legalization specifically. Thus, the current review summarizes existing studies using longitudinal designs to evaluate impacts of recreational cannabis legalization on cannabis use and related outcomes. Method A comprehensive bibliographic search strategy revealed 61 studies published from 2016 to 2022 that met criteria for inclusion. The studies were predominantly from the United States (66.2%) and primarily utilized self-report data (for cannabis use and attitudes) or administrative data (for health-related, driving, and crime outcomes). Results Five main categories of outcomes were identified through the review: cannabis and other substance use, attitudes toward cannabis, health-care utilization, driving-related outcomes, and crime-related outcomes. The extant literature revealed mixed findings, including some evidence of negative consequences of legalization (such as increased young adult use, cannabis-related healthcare visits, and impaired driving) and some evidence for minimal impacts (such as little change in adolescent cannabis use rates, substance use rates, and mixed evidence for changes in cannabis-related attitudes). Conclusions Overall, the existing literature reveals a number of negative consequences of legalization, although the findings are mixed and generally do not suggest large magnitude short-term impacts. The review highlights the need for more systematic investigation, particularly across a greater diversity of geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra N Farrelly
- Department of Psychology, York
University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions
Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada
| | - Jeffrey D Wardell
- Department of Psychology, York
University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy
Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of
Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emma Marsden
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions
Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada
| | - Molly L Scarfe
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions
Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada
| | - Peter Najdzionek
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions
Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada
| | - Jasmine Turna
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions
Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for
Medicinal Cannabis Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph’s Healthcare
Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions
Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for
Medicinal Cannabis Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph’s Healthcare
Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph,
ON, Canada
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26
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Manthey J, Jacobsen B, Hayer T, Kalke J, López-Pelayo H, Pons-Cabrera MT, Verthein U, Rosenkranz M. The impact of legal cannabis availability on cannabis use and health outcomes: A systematic review. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 116:104039. [PMID: 37126997 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For alcohol, regulating availability is an effective way to reduce consumption and harm. Similarly, the higher availability of medical cannabis dispensaries has been linked to increased cannabis consumption and harm. For recreational cannabis markets, such a link is suspected but still poorly understood. METHODS A systematic literature review (PROSPERO registration number 342357) was conducted on 1 July 2022 in common libraries (Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Psyndex, CINAHL, Embase, SCOPUS, Cochrane) for publications since 2012. Studies linking variations in the availability of legal cannabis products to behavioral outcomes (cannabis use or related health indicators) were included, while studies focusing solely on the legalization of medical cannabis were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. RESULTS After screening n = 6,253 studies, n = 136 were selected for full-text review, out of which n = 13 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on n = 333,550 study participants and n = 855,630 presentations to emergency departments. All studies were conducted in North America, with the majority from Western US states. Using longitudinal (n = 1), cross-sectional (n = 4), or repeated cross-sectional (n = 8) study designs, an increased availability of legal cannabis was linked to increased current cannabis use and health-related outcomes (vomiting, psychosis, or cannabis-involved pregnancies), regardless of the indicator employed to measure availability (proximity or density) among both adults and adolescents. The positive correlation between cannabis availability and consumption is most pronounced among those groups who have been less exposed to cannabis before legalization. The association between the availability of legal cannabis and risky use indicators was less consistent. CONCLUSIONS Groups who have been least exposed to cannabis before legalization may be most susceptible to increased availability. In jurisdictions with legal cannabis markets, restrictions on the number of legal cannabis retailers, especially in densely populated areas, appear warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Manthey
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research, Lokstedter Weg 24, 20251 Hamburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstraße 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Britta Jacobsen
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research, Lokstedter Weg 24, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Hayer
- University of Bremen, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department for Health and Society, Grazerstr. 2, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Jens Kalke
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research, Lokstedter Weg 24, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hugo López-Pelayo
- Grup de Recerca en Addicions Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Unitat de Conductes Addictives, Servei de Psiquiatria Psicologia (ICN), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Spain
| | - Maria Teresa Pons-Cabrera
- Grup de Recerca en Addicions Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Unitat de Conductes Addictives, Servei de Psiquiatria Psicologia (ICN), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Uwe Verthein
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Rosenkranz
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research, Lokstedter Weg 24, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
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Myran DT, Friesen EL, Dickson S, Konikoff L, Arora G, Tanuseputro P. Access to legal cannabis market in Canada over the four years following non-medical cannabis legalisation. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023. [PMID: 36933893 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An increasing number of countries are inthe process of legalising non-medical cannabis. We described how the legal market has changed over the first 4 years following legalisation in Canada. METHODS We collected longitudinal data on operating status and location of all legal cannabis stores in Canada for the first 4 years following legalisation. We examined per capita stores and sales, store closures, and the drive time between stores and each neighbourhood in Canada. We compared measures between public and private retail systems. RESULTS Four years after legalisation, there were 3305 cannabis stores open in Canada (10.6 stores per 100,000 individuals aged 15+ years). Canadians spent $11.85CAD a month on cannabis per individual aged 15+ years, and 59% of neighbourhoods were within a 5-minute drive of a cannabis store. Over 4 years, per capita stores and per capita sales increased each year by an average of 122.3% and 91.7%, respectively, with larger increases in private versus public systems (4.01 times greater for per capita stores and 2.46 times greater for per capita sales). The annual increase in per capita stores and sales during the first 3 years was 6.0 and 15.5 times greater, respectively, than the increase in the fourth year following legalisation. Over 4 years, 7% of retail store locations permanently closed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The legal cannabis market in Canada expanded enormously over the first 4 years following legalisation, with considerable variation in access between jurisdictions. The rapid retail expansion has implications for evaluation of health impacts of non-medical legalisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Thomas Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,ICES, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Erik Loewen Friesen
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,ICES Central, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sarah Dickson
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.,Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Lauren Konikoff
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Gaurav Arora
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.,ICES, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
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28
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Callaghan RC, Sanches M, Vander Heiden J, Kish SJ. Impact of Canada's cannabis legalisation on youth emergency department visits for cannabis-related disorders and poisoning in Ontario and Alberta, 2015-2019. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023. [PMID: 36908258 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although there is momentum towards legalising adult recreational cannabis use worldwide, the extent of youth cannabis-related harm associated with legalisation is still uncertain. The current study aimed to assess whether the initial implementation of Canada's cannabis legalisation (via the Cannabis Act) on 17 October 2018 might be associated with youth harm, as assessed by emergency department visits for cannabis-related disorders/poisoning. METHODS We used Ontario and Alberta, Canada emergency department data from 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2019. We identified all cannabis-related disorders/poisoning (ICD-10 CA: F12.X, T40.7) emergency department visits of youth (n = 13,615), defined as patients younger than the minimum legal cannabis sales age (18 years, Alberta; 19 years, Ontario). Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models were employed to assess the impact of legalisation on weekly counts of cannabis-related harms. RESULTS The final SARIMA intervention (step) parameter indicated a post-legalisation increase of 14.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.0; 24.3, p < 0.01) weekly youth cannabis-related disorder/poisoning presentations to Ontario/Alberta emergency department settings, equivalent to an increase of 20.0% (95% CI 6.2%; 33.9%). There was no evidence of associations between cannabis legalisation and comparison series of youth alcohol, opioid or appendicitis emergency department episodes. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Our findings require replication and extension but are consistent with the possibility that the implementation of the Cannabis Act was associated with an increase in youth cannabis-related presentations to Ontario/Alberta emergency departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell C Callaghan
- University of Northern British Columbia, Northern Medical Program, Prince George, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Human Brain Laboratory, Toronto, Canada.,University of Victoria, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, Victoria, Canada
| | - Marcos Sanches
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Biostatistics Core, Toronto, Canada
| | - Julia Vander Heiden
- University of Northern British Columbia, Northern Medical Program, Prince George, Canada.,University of Victoria, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, Victoria, Canada
| | - Stephen J Kish
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Human Brain Laboratory, Toronto, Canada
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29
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Myran DT, Pugliese M, Tanuseputro P, Taljaard M. Response to Smyth & McCarron: Increases in cannabis-attributable emergency department visits during different phases of the pre- and post-legalization period are multi-factorial. Addiction 2023; 118:980-982. [PMID: 36738192 DOI: 10.1111/add.16152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Pugliese
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Myran DT, Imtiaz S, Konikoff L, Douglas L, Elton-Marshall T. Changes in health harms due to cannabis following legalisation of non-medical cannabis in Canada in context of cannabis commercialisation: A scoping review. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023; 42:277-298. [PMID: 36165188 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
ISSUE On 17 October 2018, Canada legalised non-medical cannabis. Critically, the cannabis market in Canada has changed considerably since legalisation. In this scoping review, we identified available evidence on changes in cannabis-related health harms following legalisation and contextualised findings based on legal market indicators. APPROACH Electronic searches were conducted to identify studies that compared changes in cannabis-related health harms pre- and post-legalisation. We contextualised each study by the mean per capita legal cannabis stores and sales during the study period and compared study means to per capita stores and sales on October 2021-3 years following legalisation. IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Some measures of cannabis harms have increased since legalisation but studies to date have captured periods of relatively low market maturity. Longer-term monitoring of health harms as the market continues to expand is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sameer Imtiaz
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lauren Konikoff
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Laura Douglas
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tara Elton-Marshall
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Canada
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31
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Smyth BP, McCarron P. Increase in cannabis-related emergency department presentations in the period immediately before legalization requires explanation. Addiction 2023; 118:979-980. [PMID: 36606761 DOI: 10.1111/add.16128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bobby P Smyth
- Health Service Executive Addiction Service, Dublin South West, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter McCarron
- Health Service Executive Addiction Service, Dublin South West, Dublin, Ireland
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32
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Tassone F, Di Ciano P, Liu Y, Rueda S. On offer to Ontario consumers three years after legalization: A profile of cannabis products, cannabinoid content, plant type, and prices. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1111330. [PMID: 36873222 PMCID: PMC9978145 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1111330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cannabis was legalized in Canada in October 2018, regulating the production, distribution, sale, and possession of dried cannabis and cannabis oils. Additional products were legalized 1 year later, including edibles, concentrates, and topicals, with new lines of commercial products coming to market. Ontario is the most populous province in Canada and has the largest cannabis market with the highest number of in-person retail stores and the most cannabis products available online. This study aims to create a profile of products available to consumers three years after legalization by summarizing types of products, THC and CBD potency, plant type, and prices of product sub-categories. METHODS We extracted data from the website of the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS)-the public agency overseeing the only online store and sole wholesaler to all authorized in-person stores-in the first quarter of 2022 (January 19-March 23). We used descriptive analyses to summarize the data. A total of 1,771 available products were mapped by route of administration into inhalation (smoking, vaping, and concentrates), ingestible (edibles, beverages, oils, and capsules) and topical. RESULTS Most inhalation products included ≥20%/g THC (dried flower: 94%; cartridges: 96%; resin: 100%) while ingestible products had similar proportions of THC and CBD content. Indica-dominant products tend to be more prominent in inhalation products while sativa-dominant products tend to be more prominent in ingestible products. The average sale price of cannabis was 9.30 $/g for dried flower, 5.79 $/0.1g for cartridges, 54.82 $/g for resin, 3.21 $/unit for soft chews, 1.37 $/ml for drops, 1.52 $/unit for capsules, and 39.94 $/product for topicals. DISCUSSION In summary, a wide variety of cannabis products were available to Ontarians for different routes of administration and provides numerous indica-dominant, sativa-dominant, and hybrid/blend options. The current market for inhalation products however is geared towards the commercialization of high-THC products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia Tassone
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia Di Ciano
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yuxin Liu
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sergio Rueda
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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33
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Boury H, Hall W, Fischer B. Developments and Changes in Primary Public Health Outcome Indicators Associated with the Legalization of Non-Medical Cannabis Use and Supply in Canada (2018): A Comprehensive Overview. Int J Ment Health Addict 2022:1-15. [PMID: 36589471 PMCID: PMC9794107 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-022-00986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Canada legalized non-medical cannabis use and supply for adults in 2018. We examined developments and changes associated with the legalization policy reform on key indicators for public health, namely cannabis (including frequent/problematic) use prevalence, cannabis-related hospitalizations, cannabis-impaired driving, and cannabis sourcing. We identified peer-reviewed and "grey" study data that featured population-level or other quasi-representative samples and comparable outcome data for pre- and post-legalization periods, including possible trends of changes over time. Cannabis use has increased in select population groups, with use modes shifting away from smoking. Evidence on cannabis-related hospitalizations (e.g., for mental health) is mixed. The prevalence of cannabis-impaired driving appears to be generally steady but THC exposure among crash-involved drivers may have increased. Increasing proportions of users obtain cannabis products from legal sources but some-especially regular-users continue to use illicit sources. Overall, data suggest a mixed and inconclusive picture on cannabis legalization's impacts on essential public health indicators, including select extensions in trends from pre-legalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himani Boury
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
- School of Public Health, Queens University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Wayne Hall
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, University of Queensland, 17 Upland Road, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Benedikt Fischer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of Sao Paulo, R. Sena Madureira, São Paulo, 1500 Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S2S1 Canada
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34
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Lim CCW, Chan GCK, Wadsworth E, Stjepanović D, Chiu V, Chung JYC, Sun T, Connor J, Leung J, Gartner C, Hall W, Hammond D. Trends and Socio-Demographic Differences of Cannabis Vaping in the USA and Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14394. [PMID: 36361272 PMCID: PMC9659122 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Given the rise in cannabis vaping, it is important to highlight the heterogeneity in vaping different cannabis product because of the potential differences in their health risks. This study aims to estimate the trends and socio-demographic correlates of the use of various cannabis vaping products across jurisdiction with different legal status. Data from the 2018 (n = 27,169) and 2019 (n = 47,747) waves of the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS) were used. Respondents aged 16-65 completed web-based surveys. In 2019, proportions of past year vaping of cannabis oil, dried flower and concentrates in the overall sample were highest in U.S. jurisdictions where cannabis was legalized for non-medical use (17.4%, 6.0%, 4.9%), followed by U.S. jurisdiction where non-medical cannabis use is illegal (13.7%, 5.8%, 2.9%), and lowest in Canada (8.1%, 4.4%, 2.1%). Vaping dried flower decreased from 2019 to 2018 in U.S. legal jurisdictions and Canada, while vaping cannabis oil and concentrates increased in all jurisdictions (p < 0.001). The odds of vaping all forms of products were higher among younger respondents (16-55 years), males, respondents with some college education, and persons with low-risk perceptions on daily cannabis vaping. In both ICPS surveys (2018 and 2019), cannabis oil was the most frequently vaped products, followed by dried flower, and concentrates. Detailed measures of product forms for cannabis vaping should be considered in future surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen C. W. Lim
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Gary C. K. Chan
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Elle Wadsworth
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, 75 Albert St, Suite 500, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7, Canada
| | - Daniel Stjepanović
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Vivian Chiu
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Jack Y. C. Chung
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Tianze Sun
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Jason Connor
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Janni Leung
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Coral Gartner
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Wayne Hall
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - David Hammond
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Unger JB. Regulation of Cannabis Retailers: Facilitating Responsible Adult Use and Promoting Health Equity While Preventing Access to Minors. Am J Public Health 2022; 112:1532-1534. [PMID: 36223589 PMCID: PMC9558203 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2022.307102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B Unger
- Jennifer B. Unger is a Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
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Trends in Canadian Cannabis Consumption Over Time: A Two-step Meta-analysis of Canadian Household Survey Data. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADDICTION 2022. [DOI: 10.1097/cxa.0000000000000154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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