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This is The Drug Report’s Friday Fact report - Cannabis Use Disorder Up by 329% Since 2018

Report Highlights:

Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) on the Rise:

• There has been a 329% increase in cannabis use disorder between 2018 and 2022, impacting millions of Americans.

High-Potency Marijuana and its Impact:

• Those who use high-potency marijuana are four times more likely to become addicted to it. The landscape of marijuana consumption has evolved, and with these changes come evolving risks. High-potency products are amplifying concerns, including heightened paranoia, hallucinations, and lasting mental health deterioration. These effects are causing ripple effects that devastate families and communities, shedding light on the darker aspects of a growing epidemic.

Understanding CUD Prevalence and Demographics:

• Given the concerning link between high-potency marijuana and CUD, it's crucial to examine its prevalence and demographics.

  
  

• Recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data shows CUD's significant impact in the U.S.:

  • 8.0% of men and 5.5% of women aged 12 or older have CUD.

  • Communities of color are disproportionately affected, with rates of 11.0% among American Indians/Alaskan Natives, 8.9% among Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and 8.0% among Black individuals (compared to 6.4% for white individuals).

    
    

• In 2022, a staggering 18.98 million Americans (6.7% of those 12 and older) reported CUD. To put it in perspective, 1 in 15 Americans over 12 had CUD that year.

  
  

• Notably, 1.31 million cases were among individuals aged 12 to 17. Understanding these nuanced dimensions of CUD, including its impact on race and gender, is vital in addressing evolving marijuana consumption and its risks.

Immediate Action Needed:

• Immediate action is crucial to stem this tide, safeguard mental wellness, and prevent a further healthcare system overload. Refer to this image for a clearer picture of the crisis at hand. The evolving patterns emphasize the critical need for swift and deliberate action in addressing this issue.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.