Assessing the Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Adolescent Cannabis Use and Cannabis-Related Health Conditions

Recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) has high potential to lead to increases in adolescent cannabis use and related health conditions, but few studies have examined this question and results are mixed. Using data from adolescents in KPNC”s large integrated health care delivery system from 2015-2023, we aim to: 1) Test whether RCL in California in 2018 is associated with increases in rates of cannabis use and related health conditions, 2) Examine whether post-RCL changes in rates of cannabis use and related health conditions vary among demographic and clinical subgroups, and 3) Conduct interviews with addiction medicine clinicians to understand how RCL impacts adolescent cannabis use and treatment from the provider perspective.

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