Table 4.
Summary of Findings on Impact of Cannabis Policy on Concurrent or Simultaneous Use of Alcohol and Cannabis
| Article | Data (Years Analyzed) | Age Group | MJ Policy Measure | Alcohol Policy Measure | Impact on Measure of Concurrent (C) or Simultaneous (S) Drinking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Population (Age 19 and Younger) | |||||
| Wen et al. (2015)48 | NSDUH (2004–2012) Individual level data | Ages 12–20 | MML MML provisions | Beer tax | ↓ 30 d cannabis use and binge drinking (C) ↓ 30 d cannabis use while drinking (S) |
| Johnson et al. (2018)49 | YRBSS (1991–2011) | Grades 9–12 | MML | No | ↓ 30 d alcohol and cannabis use (C), but no effect on 30 d cannabis use without alcohol or 30 d alcohol use without MJ |
| MML restrictiveness (Scale: Less restrictive law means higher value) | No | ↓ 30 d alcohol and cannabis use (C), but no effect on cannabis use without alcohol | |||
| Young Adult Population (Ages 18–26) | |||||
| Kerr et al. (2017)55 | Healthy Minds Study/ College Students (2012–2016) | Ages 18–26 | RML | No | ↑ 30 d MJ use among heavy alcohol users in past 2 weeks (C) |
| Adult Population (All Ages ≥ 18) | |||||
| Fink et al. (2020)61 | NLAES (1991–1992), NESARC (2001–2002), NESARC-III (2012–2013) | Ages 18+ | MML | No | ↑ Self-reported driving under the influence of alcohol and MJ (S) |
| Wen et al. (2015)48 | NSDUH (2004–2012) Individual level data | Ages 21+ | MML MML provisions |
Beer tax | ↑ 30 d MJ use and binge drinking (C) ↑ 30 d MJ use while drinking (S) Nonspecific pain provision: ↑ 30 d MJ use and binge drinking (C) ↑ 30 d MJ use while drinking (S) |
| Steinemann et al. (2018)69 | FARS (1993–2015) | All ages | MML | No | ↑ Alcohol impairment for THC-positive drivers vs. non-THC-positive drivers |
Bold text indicates finding statistically significant at alpha = 0.05 for a two-tailed test.
Note: (C), concurrent; FARS, Fatality Analysis Reporting System; MJ, marijuana; MML, medical marijuana law; NESARC, National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions; NLAES, National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey; NS, nonsignificant; NSDUH, National Survey on Drug Use and Health; RML, recreational marijuana law; (S), simultaneous; THC, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; YRBSS, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.