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Public Health Significance—Dual use of alcohol and cannabis appears to be associated with adverse behavioral and psychological consequences and is a rapidly growing public health concern. This study suggests dual users have greater demand for alcohol, steeply discount delayed alcoholic drinks, and are at higher risk for alcohol use disorder than individuals who consume alcohol but do not consume cannabis.
The reinforcer pathologies model proposes 2 behavioral economic constructs interact in addiction: operant demand and delay discounting. These constructs manifest as behavioral markers of addiction in the form of excessive reinforcer value and strong preference for immediate access and consumption of this reinforcer despite suboptimal long-term outcomes. The first aim of this investigation was to identify the degree to which delay discounting (of money and alcohol) and demand for alcohol differ between college student drinkers (N = 185) who do and do not co-use cannabis. As a second aim, we sought to replicate the 2-factor solution for alcohol and cannabis demand within a college sample. Results suggest dual users have significantly stronger Persistence and Amplitude for alcohol, demonstrate steeper delay discounting of alcoholic drinks, and are at greater risk for alcohol use disorder than individuals who drink yet do not use cannabis. These results provide further support for the reinforcer pathologies model and contribute to the literature on dual-substance use in the college populationNude, G. P., Reed, D. D., Thornton, T. J., & Amlung, M. (2021). Dual use of alcohol and cannabis among college students: A reinforcer pathologies approach. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(4), 407–417. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000369. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
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After a strong, sustained and successful anti-cannabis demand reduction campaign in the late 80’s and early 90’s, cannabis use was declining from a then historic high, but the N.O.R.M.L’s push to use ‘medicinal marijuana’ in the mid 1990’ as a trojan horse to get declining youth use back up, has seen that strategy work, as the following tragically reveals.
- Key MTF findings on college students’ marijuana use in 2020 and recent trends are:
- In 2020, annual prevalence of marijuana use reached a historic high since the early 1980s, at 44%.
- The five year trend from 2015 to 2020 showed a significant 6% jump in the annual prevalence of marijuana use.
- Daily marijuana use increased to 7.9% a new all-time high over the past four decades.
- Over one-in-twelve college students use marijuana on a daily or near daily basis.
- 30 day marijuana vaping doubled between 2017 to 2019 from 5.2% to 14%. It slightly declined in 2020 to 12%.
- 44% Annual prevalence of marijuana use among U.S. college students
- The U.S. Monitoring the Future (MTF) report for 2020 found, among college students annual prevalence of marijuana use reached a historic high since the early 1980s, at 44%.
- Monitoring the Future, 2020
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(Harms of Cannabis Use Whilst Pregnant)
Abstract: Up to 20% of pregnant women ages 18–24 consume cannabis during pregnancy. Moreover, clinical studies indicate that cannabis consumption during pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. This is of great concern considering that the concentration of D9- tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis, has doubled over the last decade and can readily cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation, with the potential to negatively impact fetal development via the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Cannabis exposure in utero could also lead to FGR via placental insufficiency. In this review, we aim to examine current pre-clinical and clinical findings on the direct effects of exposure to cannabis and its constituents on fetal development as well as indirect effects, namely placental insufficiency, on postnatal metabolic diseases, (International Journal of Molecular Sciences)
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(Volume 8 September 2021)
Executive Summary
The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) program has published annual reports every year since 2013 tracking the impact of legalizing recreational marijuana in Colorado. The purpose is to provide data and information so that policy makers and citizens can make informed decisions on the issue of marijuana legalization.
Section I: Traffic Fatalities & Impaired Driving
- Since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2013, traffic deaths where drivers tested positive for marijuana increased 138% while all Colorado traffic deaths increased 29%.
- Since recreational marijuana was legalized, traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled from 55 in 2013 to 131 people killed in 2020.
- Since recreational marijuana was legalized, the percentage of all Colorado traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana increased from 11% in 2013 to 20% in 2020.
Section II: Marijuana Use
Since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2013:
- Past month marijuana use for ages 12 and older increased 26% and is 61% higher than the national average, currently ranked 3rd in the nation.
- Past month adult marijuana use (ages 18 and older) increased 20% and is 62% higher than the national average, currently ranked 3rd in the nation.
- Past month college age marijuana (ages 18-25) use increased 10% and is 53% higher than the national average, currently ranked 3rd in the nation.
- Past month youth marijuana (ages 12-17) use decreased 22% and is 39% higher than the national average, currently ranked 7th in the nation.
Section III: Public Health
- Marijuana only exposures increased 185% from 2013 when recreational marijuana was legalized compared to 2020.
- Treatment for marijuana use for all ages decreased 34% from 2013 to 2020.
- The percent of suicide incidents in which toxicology results were positive for marijuana has increased from 14% in 2013 to 29% in 2020.
Section IV: Black Market
- RMHIDTA Colorado Drug Task Forces (10) conducted 294 investigations of black-market marijuana in Colorado resulting in:
- 168 felony arrests
- 5.54 tons of marijuana seized
- 86,502 marijuana plants seized
- 21 different states the marijuana was destined
- Seizures of marijuana reported to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) in Colorado increased 48% from an average of 174 parcels (2009-2012) when marijuana was commercialized to an average of 257 parcels (2013-2020) during the time recreational marijuana become legalized.
Section V: Societal Impact
- Marijuana tax revenue represent approximately 0.98% of Colorado’s FY 2020 budget.
- 66% of local jurisdictions in Colorado have banned medical and recreational marijuana businesses.
- Recent cannabis use and myocardial infarction in young adults: a cross-sectional study
- New Study Outlines Public Health Impacts of Marijuana Legalization: USA
- Weed Very Unhelpful with Covid-19 – Study: Genetic Liability to Cannabis Use Disorder and COVID-19 Hospitalization
- Planting the seed for marijuana use: Changes in exposure to medical marijuana advertising and subsequent adolescent marijuana use, cognitions, and consequences over seven years