Historically consumed for their calming effects and alleged healing properties, Cannabis use has been traced as far back as 2800 BC. Ancient texts and documentation record the colorful history of the botanical originating from central Asia or western China. Cannabis refers to a group of plants having characteristic psychoactive properties. These namely include Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis; and the psychoactive substances are called ‘cannabinoids’ A widespread awareness about the addictive nature of the in the 1930s resulted in its categorization as having ‘no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse’ under the Controlled Substance Act, 1970. Since then, the cannabis industry has been subjected to massive social and legal restrictions. Despite its harmful nature, the pharmaceutical sector could not ignore the recorded application of the plant.
Challenging the social and legal norms, California became the first state to legalize cannabis production under a controlled setting and for medical purposes. This 1996 relaxation created massive waves of ethical and moral debates worldwide. More than two decades after the first legalization, an open study conducted by JAMA Network evaluated the results of this movement.
Although young adults are the largest consumers of the cannabis industry, there is a significant lack of data on this demographic group. Cannabis use often heavily affects several aspects of the user’s life; these include income, education, health, etc. An increase in the frequency of use is generally associated with a deviation of these factors from the normal range. High-risk young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 are said to be most affected by these adverse events. Being particularly vulnerable to the consumption of cannabis, co-addiction to alcohol is often observed in this age group. This has been recorded to lead to further negative consequences.
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The recent JAMA Network study discussed the changes in the pattern of cannabis use, its frequency, and its results in the young adults of Canada. The effects of the recent legalization of recreational cannabis were tested on a cohort of Cannabis users in Ontario. The sample population included 619 participants with ages ranging between 19.5 and 23 years and an average of 21 years. The longitudinal study investigated various aspects of legalization. Addressing several research gaps in prior American studies, JAMA Network was able to produce conclusive patterns.
Analysis of several aspects of the study participants for three years provided sufficient pre- and post-localization data. The relationship of cannabis legislation with frequency of use, education, and adverse consequences was studied. Frequency of use experienced a non-significant decrease post-policy change, with the most frequent user’s pre-legalization showing a significant post-legalization decline. A positive trend was also observed post-legalization. The marked reduction of cannabis use post-policy supported the claim of reduced cannabis-related adverse consequences. The non-users showed a different pattern comparatively. Despite increased use frequency over time, this group was not associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Moreover, the pre-legalization period use was not associated with significant effects post-legalization.
Joshua Austin joined News Gazzte as a senior editor in 2023. Joshua is an automotive journalist who previously worked as an autonomous vehicle test engineer at Uber. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science, with a specialization in technical writing and journalism. Joshua’s enthusiasm lies in automotive technology and the evolution of transportation. He remains vigilant in tracking the most recent developments in electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and other emerging technologies.