Guttmannova Leads Research on Cannabis Use by Washington Youth
Posted: 10/12/2023 (CSDE Research)
CSDE Affiliate Katarina Guttmannova (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) and co-authors recently published their research in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, titled “Changes in cannabis use from 2014–2019 among young adults in Washington State“. Understanding changes in cannabis use in the legalized nonmedical cannabis context is critical. Washington State (WA), one the earliest states to implement legalization, presents a unique opportunity to examine how cannabis use and its consequences changed after implementation of legalization for adults. With a focus on WA young adults, this study conducted in 2022/2023 examined changes in (1) cannabis use by sex and age, (2) preferred mode of use, and (3) cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms. During the five-year period following implementation of legalization, patterns of young adult cannabis use shifted, including particularly sharp increases among females and increases in CUD symptoms. Future studies should investigate underlying causes for these important changes.