Cannabis Use Trends, Risks, and the Evolving Policy Landscape with Dr. Rosalie Pacula
- 16 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Cannabis access has accelerated globally and across the United States, creating substantial variation in regulatory systems, product availability, potency limits, commercialization practices, and public health risks. In this Ask the Expert video, Dr. Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Professor and Elizabeth Garrett Chair in Health Policy, Economics & Law in the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, examines the evolving policy landscape of cannabis legalization and its public health implications.
Growing evidence shows that legalization has contributed to increases in adult cannabis use, including more frequent and daily use, as well as increased consumption of high-potency products such as edibles and vape concentrates. Dr. Pacula discusses these rising concerns and how they relate to increased risks of cannabis use disorder, youth exposure, and cannabis-related emergency department visits, noting that commercialization and marketing practices may contribute to greater consumption and acute harms.
Dr. Pacula emphasizes that policies governing cannabis product potency, advertising, retailer density, and product types may play a role in shaping health risks and outcomes. As cannabis markets continue to evolve globally and in the U.S., understanding these regulatory differences will be essential for future research, prevention efforts, and policymaking.
