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Exploring the association of legalisation status of cannabis with problematic cannabis use and impulsivity in the USA
Destrée, Louise Amiet, Danielle Carter, Adrian Lee, Rico Lorenzetti, Valentina Segrave, Rebecca Youssef, George Solowij, Nadia Yücel, Murat
Destrée, Louise
Amiet, Danielle
Carter, Adrian
Lee, Rico
Lorenzetti, Valentina
Segrave, Rebecca
Youssef, George
Solowij, Nadia
Yücel, Murat
Abstract
Background: There has been an increased trend towards the legalisation of medicinal and recreational cannabis use worldwide. This has been controversial as the long-term effects of frequent cannabis use on the brain are still poorly understood. Methods: In this study, we investigated whether the legal status of cannabis in the United States of America (USA) is associated with problematic cannabis use and impulsivity in 329 frequent cannabis users. The data were collected in 2015 and were analysed in 2017. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from Monash University in 2015. Results: The results indicated that participants’ problematic cannabis use and impulsivity was not different whether they resided in states where cannabis is legal for medical and/or recreational use or prohibited. Limitations: The present study is a cross-sectional design, making it difficult to infer causality and establish whether cannabis use is a cause, consequence, or correlate of altered impulsivity. Conclusion: Our study supports the notion that frequent cannabis use is associated with impulsive behaviours, whilst, conversely, we did not find an association between US state legalisation and problematic cannabis use or impulsivity.
Keywords
impulsivity, legal status of cannabis in the USA, problematic cannabis use
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Drugs in Context
Book
Volume
7
Issue
Page Range
1-5
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open