Cannabis policy

Abstract

Cannabis policy, particularly in the United States, is currently undergoing significant shifts with ongoing efforts to legalize recreational use. However, not enough attention is being given to developing effective regulatory models for legalization, which could potentially have diverse public health implications. The paper outlines these implications while focusing principally on the public health effects of commercial cannabis production and cannabis dependence. It then discusses the scale of the issue, highlighting the possible increase in cannabis dependence in case of full commercialization due to appreciable reduction in prices. The paper presents various possible interventions, such as supporting research into different legalization models and their impacts, and increasing communication between cannabis legalization advocates and public health experts. It also acknowledges the lack of organizations focusing on careful cannabis policy design. The article concludes by suggesting further areas for investigation and outlining the research process undertaken. – AI-generated abstract.