Population-Level Impacts of Non-Medical Cannabis Legalization and Commercialization on Psychosis-Related Outcomes
Abstract
The legalization of non-medical cannabis has raised concerns regarding potential impacts on psychotic disorders. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the population-level effects of non-medical cannabis legalization on psychotic disorders. The findings from our scoping review suggest that as the non-medical cannabis retail market expanded, increases in health service use for psychotic disorders were observed; however, no changes were observed during a time of market restrictions. We then conducted an ecological study, which found quarterly regional cannabis sales per capita was correlated with quarterly prevalence of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for psychotic disorders. These findings suggest that the expansion of the non-medical cannabis market may lead to increases in health service use for psychotic disorders. Further research is needed to understand the mental health implications of cannabis legalization and whether policy changes need to be made to cannabis product availability and resourcing of mental health services.