Two and a half years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, our unofficial working theory was finally confirmed: cannabis use was recently found in a new study to be associated with decreased Covid severity, contrary to what some pundits have claimed. Remember, our own theory was that that was why states (such as Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, DC, Alaska, and the entire West Coast) and countries (Canada, Netherlands, and Uruguay) with at least de facto legalized recreational cannabis (as of January 2020) saw lower Covid-related death rates compared to places where cannabis was not yet (if ever) fully legal for recreational use by early 2020, and especially when compared to their neighbors.
Some exceptions are Michigan, Illinois, and Nevada, of course. Those states did not do very well with Covid despite cannabis legalization in place by 2020, but the first two were latecomers with relatively delayed implementation of their legalization. And the Netherlands, contrary to popular opinion, does not have full legalization, but rather a quasi-legalization scheme where, as the locals there would say, "the front door is legal but the back door is illegal".
But overall, it seems our theory panned out quite nicely. Even when looking simply at cannabis use rates, rather than legalization, a similar pattern emerges overall. Think the Southern US states vs Northern states, or Easten Europe vs Western Europe, or even Sweden vs. Denmark to some extent.
Game. Set. Match. Any questions?
This is yet another reason why Cannabis should be legalized in more states of the U.S. Cannabis legalization should also come with a minimum age of 18 for possessing and smoking Cannabis. If the primary reason for legalizing Cannabis is to keep people out of the criminal justice system, then Cannabis should be legalized with a minimum age of 18. According to research done by a university, a minimum age of 18 for Cannabis is a good idea. It's time to start thinking about Cannabis legalization in a more inclusive manner.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI think adults can choose what legal substances they want to use regardless of any perceived benefit or lack thereof, but why is society (particularly after prohibition) more tolerant of alcohol than cannabis? People are allowed to consume it prior to turning 25, so why the double standards for cannabis?
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons is that some hold the view that consumption of marijuana means automatic intoxication. People find it acceptable to have a glass of wine or two at dinner because it's a socially accepted drug. However, puffing on spliff during dinner is seen as anti-social because people still imply that marijuana consumption = intoxication. Both are legally available no later than 19 years old across Canada.
DeleteAs for as young adults are concerned, I've argued that it's their choice but education is the answer not prohibition. Shutting off legal access only causes both products to the unregulated underground or to the streets where there is little to no concern about the safety of the product being sold.
DeleteHere in Calgary, anyone 18+ can walk into a liquor outlet with knowledgeable staff where all products from a 5% seltzer to a bottle of cognac 40%+ abv are regulated by the liquor licensing agency. The same system exists for marijuana. People joke about how purchasing cannabis at a retail outlet is similar to walking into an Apple Store. Much cleaner experience than the ways then it would be obtained if still illegal.
Oh I agree, I think both should be legal and I think responsible adults who choose to imbibe are not a problem. Young adolescents should not be using, imo though. As for 18-24 year olds, there is still alot of debate about the risk of psychosis associated with frequent use in young adult years. Something to discuss with (unbiased) doctors and medical professionals.
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