Impact of recreational cannabis legalization on cannabis use patterns in the NY metropolitan area: A longitudinal survey
Year: 2022
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction. In March of 2021, limited recreational cannabis use was legalized in New York (NY) State. The effects of this legalization on cannabis use patterns remain unclear. This study aims to assess changes in cannabis use patterns and the reasons behind those changes following legalization. Methods. 646 cannabis users from the NY metropolitan area who completed a baseline online survey in 2018 on cannabis use patterns and related variables were contacted via email to complete a follow-up survey that included additional items related to legalization. 135 adults (F=56, M=75, T/O=4) have completed the survey in a 6-week recruitment period thus far. Respondents’ mean age at the time of the current survey was 36.1 (SD=8.5). Most respondents reported being college-educated (68.1%) and employed (81.0%), and the racial/ethnic breakdown was as follows: White=53.3%; Hispanic=18.5%; mixed/other=17.4%; Black=7.4%; Asian=2.2%. Results. Respondents reported using cannabis more for recreational than for medicinal purposes (48.46% vs 51.28% on a scale of 0 (fully recreational) -100 (fully medicinal); p=0.011) and reported spending $10.96 more as a minimum (p=0.031) and $49.61 more as a maximum (p=0.008) dollar amount, on average, on cannabis per week after legalization (relative to before legalization). Fewer participants reported vaping as a route of administration following legalization (48.9%) compared to pre-legalization (65.9%; p=0.002). The primary type of cannabis use differed from pre- to post-legalization (p=0.020), with primarily THC-composed cannabis seemingly increasing (73.3% vs 84.4%) relative to other cannabinoids following legalization. Finally, more participants reported hallucinogen use after legalization relative to before legalization (p=0.013). Conclusions. These data suggested that in a sample of regular cannabis users, some self-reported cannabis use patterns changed after legalization of recreational cannabis use in the NY metropolitan area. Cannabis use for recreational purposes increased relative to medicinal purposes, as did certain cannabis spend parameters, proportional THC use, and hallucinogen use. Reported vaping of cannabis decreased, which speculatively could be related to respiratory concerns associated with vaping interacting with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rather than legalization per se. These results may inform policy and treatment initiatives regarding cannabis.
Authors: Rina Goldstein, Sean Madden, Allegra Nevins, Monica Tomlinson, Diana Martins-Welch, Nehal Vadhan
Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4295795183