Purpose of review: This review aims to summarize and critically evaluate the current literature on the associations between individual and socio-cultural factors that increase risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD), and policy change.
Recent findings: Epidemiological studies show that areas with permissive legal cannabis climates are associated with greater individual risk factors for CUD. This includes: (1) higher rates of edible consumption and vaping, (2) higher delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency and lower cannabidiol (CBD) levels, and, (3) younger age of initiation of use.
Summary: A change in the socio-cultural level, such as shifts in the legalization of cannabis, could interact with individual-level factors in their associations with CUD. There is currently a lack of empirical studies that evaluate this interaction. We propose that future research consider a bioecological framework for CUD to allow for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of legal climate that could inform policy and clinical practice.
Keywords: bioecological model; cannabis use disorder; cultural; legalization; public health; risk.