Medical Cannabis Laws Were Linked to Declining Specialty Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder
States with medical cannabis dispensaries saw significant declines in specialty CUD treatment in 2004-2014, partly driven by people without active CUD leaving treatment.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CUD treatment decreased 2.15 points after MCL with dispensaries (2004-2014). Among active CUD patients, declines occurred only in dispensary states. By 2015-2019, associations were no longer significant.
Key Numbers
Treatment decreased 2.15 points after MCL with dispensaries (2004-2014). Among CUD patients: -0.91 points in dispensary states. No MCL effects 2015-2019.
How They Did This
Multi-level logistic regression using restricted-use 2004-2019 NSDUH data for people aged 12+ classified as needing CUD treatment.
Why This Research Matters
If cannabis policy reduces treatment uptake among those who need it, this is a public health concern. Understanding the mechanism is critical.
The Bigger Picture
The decline may reflect reduced stigma, fewer criminal referrals, or normalization. Active CUD patients were less affected.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Observational. Self-report NSDUH. CUD criteria changed with DSM-5. Multiple simultaneous policy changes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are people managing CUD without formal help?
- ?Has reduced criminal justice involvement offset treatment decline?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CUD treatment decreased 2.15 points in dispensary states (2004-2014); no effect by 2015-2019
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative dataset with multi-level modeling, but observational design.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024 with 2004-2019 data.
- Original Title:
- Associations between cannabis policies and state-level specialty cannabis use disorder treatment in the United States, 2004-2019.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 257, 111113 (2024)
- Authors:
- Mauro, Pia M(7), Gutkind, Sarah(7), Askari, Melanie S, Hasin, Deborah S, Samples, Hillary, Mauro, Christine M, Annunziato, Erin M, Boustead, Anne E, Martins, Silvia S
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05530
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did medical marijuana laws reduce treatment for cannabis problems?
Dispensary states saw significant treatment declines 2004-2014, but the effect disappeared by 2015-2019.
Are fewer people getting help for cannabis addiction?
Specialty CUD treatment has declined nationally, but much of the decrease involved people without active CUD.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05530APA
Mauro, Pia M; Gutkind, Sarah; Askari, Melanie S; Hasin, Deborah S; Samples, Hillary; Mauro, Christine M; Annunziato, Erin M; Boustead, Anne E; Martins, Silvia S. (2024). Associations between cannabis policies and state-level specialty cannabis use disorder treatment in the United States, 2004-2019.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 257, 111113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111113
MLA
Mauro, Pia M, et al. "Associations between cannabis policies and state-level specialty cannabis use disorder treatment in the United States, 2004-2019.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111113
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Associations between cannabis policies and state-level speci..." RTHC-05530. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mauro-2024-associations-between-cannabis-policies
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.