A Canadian research team evaluated the impact of cannabis retail openings and emergency department (ED) visits. The study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy showed no evidence that cannabis retailer licenses affected cannabis-related ED visits.
The researchers assessed 278 communities in Ontario. The team analyzed health administrative data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services (ICES) for all Ontario residents covered by public health insurance. The study cohort consisted of 11,156,100 adults aged 18 and above. The team monitored participants quarterly from January 2016 to March 2023. The analysis featured staggered difference-in-differences (DiD) used in Callaway and Sant'Anna (CSDID) models. The inverse probability of retailer allocation weighted the data to determine the relationship between cannabis store openings and ED visits.
The study also did not observe any changes in ED visits related to alcohol use or opioids. Although the team anticipated that increased licensed cannabis retail access might negatively impact health outcomes, the findings pointed to no connection between retail openings and negative health incidents. The study authors indicated additional research is critical for understanding the complex relationship between the availability of cannabis retail options and public health metrics. The researchers recommended that policymakers examine regional factors such as cannabis pricing and retailer hours of operation that might influence health outcomes. This information will reveal insights into the effective monitoring of sales and the development of substance use prevention strategies.
Many states with legalized medical and recreational cannabis programs have reported positive benefits of cannabis retail sites. Other studies have observed a relationship between retail openings and home value increases, job creation, and opioid use reductions. Other states have reported improved economic development; for example, Massachusetts charges retailers a community impact fee, which funds sidewalk and road maintenance.
Sources: International Journal of Drug Policy, NORML
