Some State Cannabis Laws Worked as Intended, Many Did Not
Among 1,847 young adults in 19 legal states, some cannabis retail laws achieved their goals, like billboard ad bans reducing exposure, while many others showed no measurable effect on the behaviors they targeted.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Retail license limits were associated with fewer retailer visits. Billboard ad restrictions reduced billboard ad exposure. Driving-related warnings in ads were associated with less driving after use. Restricting health claims reduced exposure to claims. However, many other laws (online advertising restrictions, required warnings on risk perceptions) showed no significant associations with targeted outcomes.
Key Numbers
1,847 participants in 19 states. License limits associated with fewer visits. Billboard bans reduced exposure. Driving warnings reduced driving after use. Zoning near youth facilities associated with minimum-age signage. No effect for online advertising restrictions or risk perception warnings.
How They Did This
Surveys of 1,847 US young adults in 19 states with nonmedical cannabis retail (June-November 2023). Three categories of laws examined: operational restrictions, advertising restrictions, and required warnings. Multivariable analyses linked specific laws to relevant behavioral outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
As states experiment with cannabis regulation, understanding which specific laws actually change behavior is essential for evidence-based policy. This study provides one of the first assessments of specific regulatory provisions and their real-world effects.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis regulation is not one-size-fits-all. Some laws achieve their intended effects while others appear ineffective. Ongoing assessment and refinement of regulations is necessary to maximize public health benefits.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot prove laws caused behavior changes. Self-reported outcomes. Cannot account for industry compliance levels. Limited to young adults in states with nonmedical retail.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why are some laws effective while others are not?
- ?Is it a matter of enforcement or design?
- ?Would different regulatory approaches improve outcomes for the ineffective provisions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Billboard ad bans reduced exposure; many other laws showed no effect
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large multi-state survey linking specific laws to behavioral outcomes, but cross-sectional design and self-reported measures
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 using June-November 2023 survey data from 19 states
- Original Title:
- State Nonmedical Cannabis Laws and U.S. Young Adults' Cannabis-Related Experiences.
- Published In:
- American journal of preventive medicine, 69(3), 107939 (2025)
- Authors:
- Berg, Carla J(27), Ruchelli, Sabrina, Platt, Elizabeth, Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia, Romm, Katelyn F, Wang, Yan, LoParco, Cassidy R, Cui, Yuxian, Yang, Y Tony, Szlyk, Hannah S, Burris, Scott
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06049
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Which cannabis laws actually work?
This study found that retail license limits reduced store visits, billboard ad restrictions reduced ad exposure, and driving-related warnings in ads were linked to less impaired driving. However, online advertising restrictions and required warning labels showed no measurable effect.
Why do some laws fail to work?
The study did not determine why. Possible explanations include low compliance, ineffective design, or the difficulty of changing behavior through certain types of regulation. The authors recommend ongoing research into both policy impact and industry compliance.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06049APA
Berg, Carla J; Ruchelli, Sabrina; Platt, Elizabeth; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia; Romm, Katelyn F; Wang, Yan; LoParco, Cassidy R; Cui, Yuxian; Yang, Y Tony; Szlyk, Hannah S; Burris, Scott. (2025). State Nonmedical Cannabis Laws and U.S. Young Adults' Cannabis-Related Experiences.. American journal of preventive medicine, 69(3), 107939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107939
MLA
Berg, Carla J, et al. "State Nonmedical Cannabis Laws and U.S. Young Adults' Cannabis-Related Experiences.." American journal of preventive medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107939
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "State Nonmedical Cannabis Laws and U.S. Young Adults' Cannab..." RTHC-06049. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/berg-2025-state-nonmedical-cannabis-laws
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.