How cannabis legalization affects substance use
A comprehensive McGill-led study reviews 30 years of data on the public health impacts of cannabis legalization. It finds that while cannabis use has increased among adults, the policy's effects on alcohol and opioid consumption vary significantly by demographic.
Why it matters
Understanding these cross-substance trends is critical for policymakers designing public health regulations and harm-reduction strategies.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: Haley Bee from Pexels The legalization of cannabis affects substance use, with the potential for both negative and positive effects on public health, a new McGill-led study found.
The researchers conducted a systematic review of evidence from 176 studies spanning 30 years in Canada, the United States, Europe, Uruguay and Australia. Published in The Milbank Quarterly , the review is one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of how cannabis policy reforms affect substance use and public health.
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