People who live close to cannabis dispensaries are more likely to use cannabis frequently and have a lower likelihood of heavy alcohol use, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Led by Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts Professor of Psychological Science David Kerr, the researchers considered telephone survey data from over 60,000 Oregonian adults. The researchers utilized nine years of data (2014-2022) from the state Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, organized annually by the Oregon Health Authority.
Oregon voters legalized adult-use cannabis in 2014, and dispensaries in the state converted to the adult-use market in 2015.
“The bottom line is that Oregonians who lived near more licensed cannabis retailers, and in closer proximity to them, were more likely to use cannabis 10 or more days per month than people living in areas with fewer retailers. Another key finding was that adults living closer to cannabis retailers were less likely to report heavy drinking.” — Kerr, in a press release
Kerr noted that both key findings — higher rates of frequent cannabis use and lower rates of heavy alcohol use — were most pronounced in people aged 21-24, and those aged 65 or older.
The research was federally funded with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, of the National Institutes of Health.
