Legalization of cannabis food links linked to increased use of adolescents in Canada

Researchers from the University of Manitoba and Memorial University of Newfoundland report that legalization of youth-oriented cannabis ethery and extracts in Canada was associated with higher cannabis use among adolescents during specific study periods.

In October 2018, Canada legalized the sale of dried or fresh cannabis and cannabis oil to individuals above a legal minimum age of 18 or 19 years, depending on the province. A year later, cannabis -eet goods and extracts became legally in all provinces except Quebec. Products include cannabis-decked chocolates, sweets, desserts and vapen oils, which were considered more attractive for adolescents than dried cannabis.

Quebec maintained a ban on youth-friendly cannabis ejaceable and vapen products, with reference to risks of chance poisoning and worries about the standardization of cannabis use. Various Atlantic provinces also limited cannabis vapor products.

Health officials expressed their concern that the legalization of these products could increase the use of adolescents cannabis, change the consumer modes, reduce the perception of risks and encourage the use of alcohol to use alcohol. Existing research has not provided clear evidence about these potential effects.

In the study entitled “Legalization of youth -friendly cannabis food and extracts and adolescent cannabis use”, ” published in Jama Network OpenResearchers have carried out serial cross-sectional research to investigate changes in cannabis use in adolescents and cannabis damage certificates related to the legalization of youth-friendly cannabis edible and extracts in Canada.

Surveys were assessed on the basis of a cohort of 106,032 students, grades 7 to 11, who participated in the cycles of the Canadian student tobacco, alcohol and drug investigations in 2018-2019 and 2021-2022.

Researchers compared changes in cannabis -related results in provinces that legalized cannabis food and extracts with changes in Quebec, where youth -friendly cannabis edible and cannabis fapers products were prohibited. Analyzes checked for student quality, sex or gender, urban versus national residence, province and survey year.

Twelve months cannabis use in adolescents rose from 14.6% to 15.9% in provinces that legalized cannabis edible substances and extracts. In Quebec, where these products remained forbidden, the use of cannabis fell from 17.4% to 15.6%.

The use of edible cannabis increased from 7.9% to 9.5% in legalization provinces and fell from 7.3% to 5.9% in Quebec. Smoking cannabis rose from 12.8% to around 15.3% in legalization provinces and decreased in Quebec. Cannabis Vapen increased in both groups, with a slightly smaller increase in legalization provinces than in Quebec.

Legalization was associated with a lower perception of damage due to incidental cannabis use. The chance that adolescents was perceived by incidental cannabis smoking fell by 5.6 percentage points. A decrease of 5.2 percentage points was observed in observed damage due to incidental use of other ways of cannabis intake. No changes were found in perceptions of damage due to regular cannabis use.

Regression analysis showed a greater increase in the use of cannabis when explaining the reduction that was observed in Quebec. Because Quebec reported the falling use, comparisons yielded a larger net effect of legalization, without insulating increases that are exclusively due to policy change.

According to this statistical mode, legalization was associated with a net increase of 3.8 percentage points in cannabis use, after taking into account the reductions observed in Quebec. A relative increase of 26% compared to the basic line of pre-finalization. Edible cannabis use showed a net increase of 3.4 percentage points, or 43%, after deducting the corresponding decline in Quebec. Smoking cannabis rose by 4.4 percentage points, or 34%, by the same comparison. The use of cannabis and alcohol increased by 2.4 percentage points, or 28%. Cannabis Vapen did not show a statistically significant change.

Legalization of youth -oriented cannabis food and extracts in Canada was associated with an increase in the total use of cannabis in adolescents. In addition to an increase in edible consumption and smoking cannabis, the study found a higher percentages of using cannabis and alcohol in provinces that legalized these products compared to Quebec, where such products remained forbidden. Adolescents in legalization provinces were also less likely to consider incidental cannabis use as harmful.

Researchers noted that these findings reflect associations instead of causal context. The observed increases were measured compared to falling speeds in Quebec and must be interpreted as net effects. While the study checked for important demographic and provincial factors, it only used one cycle survey after legalization and trusted it on self -reported data.

Authors concluded that further policy measures may be needed to reduce access from adolescents to cannabis rich and extracts.

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