The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience
Cannabis legalization for non-medical purposes (subsequently referred to as “cannabis legalization” or “legalization”) took place in Canada in October 2018. One of the federal government's stated goals with cannabis legalization was to protect Canadian youth from cannabis-related harms. The mai...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.984485/full |
| _version_ | 1828175633837981696 |
|---|---|
| author | Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana Jean-François Crépault Jean-François Crépault Justin Matheson Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll |
| author_facet | Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana Jean-François Crépault Jean-François Crépault Justin Matheson Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll |
| author_sort | Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cannabis legalization for non-medical purposes (subsequently referred to as “cannabis legalization” or “legalization”) took place in Canada in October 2018. One of the federal government's stated goals with cannabis legalization was to protect Canadian youth from cannabis-related harms. The main objective of this narrative review is to describe the impact of cannabis legalization on Canadian youth. To that end, we discuss the regulation of the Canadian cannabis market, outline changes in the epidemiology and parameters of cannabis use (modes of use, potency of cannabis) among youth, and discuss prevention and education initiatives related to cannabis. The Canadian model differs from other jurisdictions that legalized recreational cannabis use, especially with regard to a higher degree of government regulation of the cannabis market. Another difference is the development and endorsement of lower-risk cannabis use guidelines to educate the public and health professionals. The results available for this review cover only 3 years post-legalization. Cannabis legalization in Canada brought an apparent increase in use among Canadian older than 25. However, results for youth are mixed, with the majority of studies showing no pronounced increase. Notably, the trend of a decrease in adolescents' cannabis use seen pre-legalization may have reversed. Emerging evidence also suggests that cannabis-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits among Canadian youth may have increased due to cannabis legalization. Data about changes in the age of initiation, the influence of legalization on sex and gender, and race/ethnicity are limited, with evidence suggesting that the age of initiation slightly increased. So far, there is limited data about the impact of cannabis legalization on Canadian youth. Further long-term monitoring and research to assess the effects of cannabis legalization on Canadian youth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:30:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-adbce1b6116b4c57afefadf00e7f16c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:30:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-adbce1b6116b4c57afefadf00e7f16c42022-12-22T03:47:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-09-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.984485984485The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experienceDafna Sara Rubin-Kahana0Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana1Jean-François Crépault2Jean-François Crépault3Justin Matheson4Bernard Le Foll5Bernard Le Foll6Bernard Le Foll7Bernard Le Foll8Bernard Le Foll9Bernard Le Foll10Bernard Le Foll11Child and Youth Mental Health Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaCommunications and Partnerships, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaTranslational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaTranslational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartments of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, CanadaInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada0Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON, CanadaCannabis legalization for non-medical purposes (subsequently referred to as “cannabis legalization” or “legalization”) took place in Canada in October 2018. One of the federal government's stated goals with cannabis legalization was to protect Canadian youth from cannabis-related harms. The main objective of this narrative review is to describe the impact of cannabis legalization on Canadian youth. To that end, we discuss the regulation of the Canadian cannabis market, outline changes in the epidemiology and parameters of cannabis use (modes of use, potency of cannabis) among youth, and discuss prevention and education initiatives related to cannabis. The Canadian model differs from other jurisdictions that legalized recreational cannabis use, especially with regard to a higher degree of government regulation of the cannabis market. Another difference is the development and endorsement of lower-risk cannabis use guidelines to educate the public and health professionals. The results available for this review cover only 3 years post-legalization. Cannabis legalization in Canada brought an apparent increase in use among Canadian older than 25. However, results for youth are mixed, with the majority of studies showing no pronounced increase. Notably, the trend of a decrease in adolescents' cannabis use seen pre-legalization may have reversed. Emerging evidence also suggests that cannabis-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits among Canadian youth may have increased due to cannabis legalization. Data about changes in the age of initiation, the influence of legalization on sex and gender, and race/ethnicity are limited, with evidence suggesting that the age of initiation slightly increased. So far, there is limited data about the impact of cannabis legalization on Canadian youth. Further long-term monitoring and research to assess the effects of cannabis legalization on Canadian youth.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.984485/fullyouthadolescentslegalizationcannabis policyCanadacannabis (marijuana) |
| spellingShingle | Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana Dafna Sara Rubin-Kahana Jean-François Crépault Jean-François Crépault Justin Matheson Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll Bernard Le Foll The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience Frontiers in Psychiatry youth adolescents legalization cannabis policy Canada cannabis (marijuana) |
| title | The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience |
| title_full | The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience |
| title_fullStr | The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience |
| title_short | The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience |
| title_sort | impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth a narrative review of the canadian experience |
| topic | youth adolescents legalization cannabis policy Canada cannabis (marijuana) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.984485/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dafnasararubinkahana theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT dafnasararubinkahana theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT jeanfrancoiscrepault theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT jeanfrancoiscrepault theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT justinmatheson theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll theimpactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT dafnasararubinkahana impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT dafnasararubinkahana impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT jeanfrancoiscrepault impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT jeanfrancoiscrepault impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT justinmatheson impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience AT bernardlefoll impactofcannabislegalizationforrecreationalpurposesonyouthanarrativereviewofthecanadianexperience |