Getting it Right from the Start

The Washington Post latest review of cannabis research reinforces what public health experts have been warning for years: context matters. As cannabis products become more potent and daily use becomes more common, researchers are reaching growing agreement on several key findings:

• Higher-potency products pose greater risks, particularly for frequent users and young people.
• Adolescent brains are the most vulnerable, with research linking youth cannabis use to increased risks of psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other mental health problems.
• Frequency matters. Heavy, long-term use is associated with measurable effects on working memory and brain function, while occasional adult use appears to have fewer detectable impacts.
• Many claimed mental health benefits remain unsupported. Recent systematic reviews conclude there is little high-quality evidence supporting cannabis for most psychiatric conditions, while documenting important risks.

The article also highlights an encouraging finding: some cognitive effects may improve after reducing or stopping cannabis use, underscoring the value of prevention, education, and informed decision-making.

As cannabis policy continues to evolve, public health must be guided by evidence—not marketing. That means honest education about potency, youth vulnerability, and the importance of reducing risk.

Read article here: https://bit.ly/3Q9ZHWH

ig Cannabis just took a major step toward Wall Street.

Following the federal government's decision to move medical cannabis to Schedule III—a decision currently being challenged in court—Trulieve has become the first U.S. cannabis company to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

According to reporting in the Washington Post Health Brief, Trulieve generated $1.2 billion in revenue last year, operates more than 230 dispensaries, and has over 4 million square feet of cultivation and processing capacity.

Supporters argue rescheduling will expand research opportunities. More research is important and long overdue.

But many products sold in state "medical cannabis" programs have never undergone the rigorous FDA approval process required of prescription drugs. Products can vary dramatically in potency, formulation, and intended use, even as they are marketed within systems built around claims of medical benefit.

The ability to create publicly traded cannabis companies marks another step in the emergence of a powerful "Big Cannabis" industry. Greater access to investment capital may fuel industry expansion and increase political influence even as many cannabis products continue to bypass the rigorous scientific review required of approved medicines.

Read article: https://bit.ly/43zkgPj

*****na

New California research reinforces what Getting it Right from the Start’s prior prevention research has repeatedly found: adolescents increasingly perceive cannabis as less harmful than other substances — even as higher-risk cannabis use patterns have grown in the post-legalization era.

A new UC San Diego study of more than 175,000 California students found teens consistently viewed cannabis as the least harmful commonly used substance.

This is concerning because prior California youth research has also shown:
- increasing normalization of cannabis
- youth exposure to cannabis marketing
- rising use of high-potency products
- increased va**ng and concentrate use
- growing risks associated with today’s far stronger commercial cannabis products

Today’s cannabis market is fundamentally different from past generations, with THC concentrations often dramatically higher and product formats designed for greater potency and efficiency.

Public health solutions include:
- stronger warning labels
- THC potency transparency
- limits on youth-appealing advertising
- restrictions near schools, parks, and libraries
- prevention-centered public education

Legalization without strong prevention safeguards risks widening the gap between perceived safety and actual adolescent health risks.

hashtag Study: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/teens-view-cannabis-as-less-harmful-than-alcohol-vapes-and-cigarettes