HomeCannabis MedicineMedical Cannabis Program Sustainability in the Era of Recreational Cannabis

Medical Cannabis Program Sustainability in the Era of Recreational Cannabis

July 10, 2023

Clin Ther. 2023 Jun;45(6):578-588. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.01.017.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Since October 2022, a total of 21 states have enacted both medical-use and adult-use cannabis legalization, each with their own unique set of laws, regulations, implementation, structures, and enforcement (“policies”). Unlike adult-use programs, medical-use programs often represent a safer and affordable option for patients with diverse needs; however, current evidence suggests that medical-use program activity decreases after implementation of adult-use retail. The current study compares medical patient registration data and medical- and adult-use retail data from 3 distinct medical- and adult-use states (Colorado, Massachusetts, and Oregon) in the time after adult-use retail implementation in each state.

METHODS: To investigate changes in medical cannabis programs with simultaneous adult-use legalization, correlation and linear regression analyses were used to assess outcome measures: (1) medical-use retail sales; (2) adult-use retail sales; and (3) number of registered medical patients in all fiscal quarters after adult-use retail sales were implemented in each state to September 2022.

FINDINGS: Adult-use cannabis sales increased significantly over time in all 3 states. However, both medical-use sales and number of medical patients registered in the states increased only in Massachusetts.

IMPLICATIONS: Results indicate that states’ preexisting medical-use programs may undergo critical changes after adult-use cannabis legalization is enacted and implemented. Key policy and program differences, such as regulatory differences in the implementation of adult-use retail sales, may have differential impacts on medical-use programs. For continued patient access, it is critical that future research assess the differences within and between states’ medical-use and adult-use programs that permit sustainability of medical-use programs alongside adult-use legalization and implementation.

PMID:37414508 | DOI:10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.01.017

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About The Author

Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.