As the popularity of cannabis grows and previous stigmatization drops, there is also increased usage across the globe. Over 50% of U.S. states have legalized cannabis for medical, recreational, or both purposes. This has led to burgeoning markets filled with cannabis-based products like gummies, beverages, vapes, and joints. According to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found significant incompatibilities between federal governments and states.
This has led to fragmented policies and public health risks as the federal government continues to classify most forms of cannabis as illegal. This report highlights the need for federal leadership and national standards to address these incongruencies. With the commercial growth of cannabis, states have primarily focused on regulating sales and revenue.
Key Findings from the Report
Dr. Steven Teutsch, chair of the committee that authored the report, explains that states initially prioritized regulating cannabis markets over public health concerns. “The consequence of that is the public health aspects were often given a backseat and we’re now playing catch up for that,” he says. Here are 5 key findings from the report by Dr. Steven Teutsch.
1. Cannabis consumption surpasses alcohol in daily use
For the first time in 2022, more U.S. adults reported near-daily cannabis use than alcohol consumption. This report is according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Regular cannabis use has rapidly increased over the last 3 decades, growing from fewer than 1 million users in 1992 to over 17 million users in 2022.
Legalization has made cannabis more readily accessible and affordable. Around two-thirds of Americans aged 12 and older state they find it “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain. In some cases and in certain states, cannabis is easier to obtain than alcohol.
Read More: Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Study Shows
2. Potency levels are rising without consistent disclosure
Cannabis products have become increasingly potent over time. While smoking the dried cannabis “bud” or flower remains the most popular method of consumption, cannabis vapes, vape oils, and high-THC concentrates like dabs are gaining traction. Other products, such as edibles, have also increased in popularity.
These products can contain THC levels as high as 90%, increasing risks such as unintended overconsumption. These high-THC content products, when consumed, can also contribute to the increased potential risks of traffic accidents and hospital visits. Although some states regulate THC limits in edibles, many other cannabis products remain unregulated due to legal loopholes.
3. Psychoactive hemp products exploit legal loopholes
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived chemicals like CBD and delta-8 THC, enabling their sale even in states where cannabis remains illegal. This subset of cannabis, hemp, has been excluded from the Controlled Substances Act. This has spurred a boom in products previously outside regulatory oversight. Some of these substances are processed to enhance psychoactive effects but evade regulation under current laws. The report urges lawmakers and states to close this loophole, ensuring all intoxicating cannabis forms face regulation.
4. Research barriers hinder understanding
Cannabis’s classification as a Schedule I substance has long obstructed scientific research due to stringent regulations and limited access to cannabis for conducting studies. Researchers face burdensome requirements, such as DEA registration and complex licensing processes, which usually deter many from pursuing cannabis studies.
This classification also prevents federal agencies, like the White House Office of National Drug Policy, from examining legalization impacts. A proposed reclassification to Schedule III aims to ease these restrictions, enabling proper and cohesive research on the benefits and risks of cannabis. The National Academies report urges Congress to remove barriers, fostering evidence-based understanding of cannabis’s health effects and advancing public health policies and initiatives.
5. Public perception often overlooks risks
Legalization has led many to underplay cannabis’s potential health and mental risks. These include psychosis, suicidal ideation, and addiction risks associated with high THC doses. Advertising campaigns increasingly target younger people with pro-cannabis messaging while not giving cohesive comparisons between the pros and cons. Also, industry lobbying blocks efforts to limit THC concentrations or regulate pesticide use on farms. The report calls for public health campaigns highlighting risks for vulnerable groups such as youth, pregnant individuals, and seniors.
Recommendations for Federal Action
The report advocates adopting a public health framework for cannabis regulation similar to tobacco and alcohol control models. As the models already exist, there would not be a need to construct this framework from the ground up.
Suggested measures include marketing restrictions, age limits, retail environment reforms, taxation policies, and strategies to reduce youth access. Additionally, it recommends training dispensary staff to provide accurate information about both risks and benefits of cannabis products. Collaborative efforts between the public health sector and federal leadership are important to rectify the legal loophole. These efforts should aim to harmonize fragmented state policies and safeguard public health amid growing legalization efforts across the country.
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