Cannabis use among New Jersey young adults jumped 42% after adult-use retail sales began
Ever cannabis use among New Jersey 18-23 year olds increased from 49% to 58% within three months of adult-use retail sales launching, with edibles and dried herb driving the largest increases.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Odds of ever cannabis use were 42% higher in the post-retail period (95% CI: 32%-54%). Ever use of dried herb, edibles, drinks, and topicals all significantly increased. Past 30-day edible use rose from 9.0% to 11.8%. Concentrate, vape, and other product types did not significantly change.
Key Numbers
Ever use: 58.1% post vs 48.9% pre (p<0.01). aOR for ever use: 1.42 (95% CI: 1.32-1.54). Edibles ever use: 45.9% vs 35.6% (p<0.01). Past 30-day edibles: 11.8% vs 9.0% (p=0.01). Dried herb: 44.4% vs 38.5% (p<0.01).
How They Did This
Prospective cohort analysis of New Jersey young adults (18-23) from the PACE study. Three pre-retail waves (March-November 2021, n=1,439) compared to one post-retail wave (June-July 2022, n=1,127) using generalized estimating equations.
Why This Research Matters
This is one of the first studies to examine cannabis use changes specifically by product type after retail legalization. The finding that edibles drove much of the increase has implications for dosing safety and public health messaging.
The Bigger Picture
New Jersey legalized adult-use cannabis in 2020 but retail sales did not begin until April 2022. The rapid increase in the first three months of retail availability, particularly for edibles, confirms the importance of product accessibility in driving use patterns.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Short post-retail follow-up period (3 months). Cohort attrition from pre to post waves. Cannot distinguish new users from people who were using illicitly and now report legal use. New Jersey experience may not generalize to other states.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will the increase plateau or continue accelerating with longer retail availability?
- ?Does the shift toward edibles reduce smoking-related harms?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- higher odds of ever cannabis use among NJ young adults within 3 months of adult-use retail sales opening
- Evidence Grade:
- Prospective cohort design with pre-post comparison provides stronger evidence than cross-sectional studies, though short follow-up and attrition are limitations.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication with 2021-2022 data.
- Original Title:
- Relationship between an adult-use Cannabis law and Cannabis use by type in a cohort of New Jersey young adults.
- Published In:
- Preventive medicine, 198, 108354 (2025)
- Authors:
- Glasser, Allison M(3), Villanti, Andrea C(4), Gundersen, Daniel A(2), Schroth, Kevin R J, Hrywna, Mary
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06549
Evidence Hierarchy
Enrolls participants and follows them forward in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why did edibles increase the most?
Edibles may appeal to new or returning users who want to avoid smoking. They are also easy to use discreetly and available in familiar forms (gummies, chocolates). Retail availability makes them more accessible than the illicit market where flower dominates.
Does this mean legalization increases cannabis problems?
The study measured use, not harm. Increased use does not automatically mean increased problems. Some of the increase likely represents people reporting previously illicit use. Whether the increase translates to health consequences requires longer follow-up.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06549APA
Glasser, Allison M; Villanti, Andrea C; Gundersen, Daniel A; Schroth, Kevin R J; Hrywna, Mary. (2025). Relationship between an adult-use Cannabis law and Cannabis use by type in a cohort of New Jersey young adults.. Preventive medicine, 198, 108354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108354
MLA
Glasser, Allison M, et al. "Relationship between an adult-use Cannabis law and Cannabis use by type in a cohort of New Jersey young adults.." Preventive medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108354
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Relationship between an adult-use Cannabis law and Cannabis ..." RTHC-06549. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/glasser-2025-relationship-between-an-adultuse
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.