According to a recent study from Temple University, the rates of criminal legal referrals for treatment of cannabis use disorder (CUD), among young adults, “declined much more rapidly” after adult-use marijuana legalization. The authors believe this trend is “likely” due to the decline in cannabis-related arrests among people aged 18-24 years.
Researchers found that among teenagers, those aged 12-17, “the trajectory of the decline in criminal justice referrals following recreational legalization did not change substantially.”
The study used state-level data, collected by SAMHSA, from 2008 to 2019, about admissions into treatment programs funded with public funds. Researchers compared the percentage of CUD referrals that came from the criminal justice system to trends in states where adult-use cannabis is legal.
Even in states that do not allow marijuana, the number of criminal justice referrals for CUD treatment is already declining. The authors noted that “over the study period in the United States, both the number and proportion of criminal justice referrals for CUD treatment decreased” for adolescents and young adults.
The study found that in states where marijuana was legalized for adults, referrals to the criminal justice system dropped faster.
“Difference-in-differences model results indicate that, among young adults, the proportion of CJ referrals declined more rapidly in states that legalized recreational cannabis, following legalization, as compared with states that did not,” the authors wrote.
The Journal of Addiction Medicine published a report last month that showed the proportion of cases of juveniles from criminal justice sources decreased after legalization. However, “the difference between the trajectory of decline in states legalizing or not legalizing recreational marijuana did not reach statistical significant,” the report stated.
In total, 57 percent of the young adult cases (1,031,411 admissions of young adults and 906,809 admissions of adolescents) and 47 percent for adolescent case were referred to criminal justice.
The authors noted that the decline in CUD admissions occurred while the prevalence of cannabis use by adults increased, and the risk factors associated with CUD due to legalization also increased.
The Temple team suggested that a health-oriented approach would be more appropriate than relaunching the drug war.
They wrote: “We believe [substance abuse disorder] is better treated as a problem of public health rather than criminal justice and that cannabis legalization could begin to address social justice concerns that have been long-held in relation to cannabis criminalization.” “Promoting CUD referrals through sources other than criminal justice systems, such as…in primary health settings…may help meet CUD needs for adolescents and young adult during a time of expanding cannabis legalization.”
Not everyone, however, is concerned about the news. Paul Armentano said in a post on NORML’s blog that fewer cannabis users being forced into treatment might be a positive thing.
He said that most people who are arrested for marijuana possession do not need mandatory drug treatment. These referrals have been made primarily to divert them from the criminal justice systems.
It’s not clear at first glance that everyone admitted to needing treatment. Some people were there to avoid a criminal history for cannabis possession.
Armantano said that fewer people will enter the system because cannabis is illegal. This means more resources can go to those who have a greater need for treatment.
He said that cannabis legalization would not only end tens and thousands of unnecessary low-level marijuana arrests, but also allow drug treatment centers to accommodate those who really need them.
In a separate study published last month, researchers found that referrals to foster care also fell after marijuana legalization–but only following the adoption of medical cannabis laws. The study concluded that states that legalized marijuana for adult use saw no change in the number foster care entries relating to teenage or parental drug abuse compared to control state.
A report from last year found a link between legalization of adult marijuana and drug abuse in foster care. Researchers from the University of Mississippi discovered that legalizing recreational use was associated with a minimum of a 10% decrease of foster care admissions. This included reductions of placements because of physical abuse, neglect and parental imprisonment, as well as misuse of alcohol or other drugs.
A study conducted earlier this year showed that marijuana was “significantly associated” with reduced opioid cravings in people who use them without prescription. This suggests that increasing access to legal cannabis may provide a safer alternative for more people.
Study: Medical Marijuana Users Experience Lower Anxiety, Pain and Depression after Three Months of Use
The article Marijuana treatment referrals from law enforcement declined more rapidly after legalization, study finds first appeared on Marijuana moment.
