USA: Marijuana legalization reduces tobacco use

By Sechat editorial team

A new article published in the Journal of Health Economics addresses the impact of legalizing marijuana for adult use on tobacco consumption. The study, conducted by researchers from Bentley University, San Diego State University, and Georgia State University, found that cannabis law reform in some US states led to a decrease in traditional cigarette use.

The authors claim that their study is the first to comprehensively investigate the effect of marijuana legalization on tobacco use by adults, presenting three key findings:

1st - Adoption of cannabis laws increases use among adults;

2nd - There is no evidence that marijuana legalization increases tobacco use among adults;

3rd - Dispensary openings are associated with greater increases in the use of nicotine delivery systems than the adoption of recreational marijuana laws without open dispensaries.

Researchers conclude that while recreational dispensaries are an important supply channel to explain the substitution between marijuana and tobacco among adults, increased plant consumption could lead to unintended "renormalization of smoking" that could undermine existing tobacco control policies. 

As a result, public health experts are calling for more research on the subject, emphasizing that this research has significant implications for the field and can inform future policies related to tobacco and marijuana use.