Digital Commons Network^™

Benchmark Policies And The Rationalization Of Cannabis, Ethan Handa

Public Health Theses

The process of creating new policy is frequently dependent on knowledge and study of precedent, which in turn, helps influence future strategy. In the case of legal cannabis state industries, there is much to be learned from policy mistakes made in how other states managed cannabis legalization. As such, these mistakes leave gaps in policy, which pose a threat to the rationality of the legal industry and set poor precedent for future efforts. In turn, the goal of this paper is to identify gaps in cannabis policy and highlight what should be seen as benchmark policy for further industry developments. …

Associations Between Cannabis Use, Medication Status And Panic-Anxiety Disorder Symptoms Among Us Adults, Diane Tran Ma

Public Health Theses

The existing body of literature focuses on the onset of panic disorders or other side effects as an association with cannabis use, but does little to address how possible concomitant cannabis use affects symptom presentation in already-diagnosed patients. The present project aims to take a closer look at adults with a lifetime history of DSM-5 diagnosed anxiety disorders, their prescribed (non-cannabis) medication use, cannabis use frequency, and associated symptom severity.

In general, we find that cannabis use is associated with higher panic-anxiety symptom severity across panic disorder without agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and people with combined anxious-distress diagnoses, after controlling …

Early Onset Marijuana Use And Adult Mental Health, Christine Murphy Andrews

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: The impact of marijuana use has become a national topic with the increase in state’s legalizing or decriminalizing the use of the drug. To understand the impact this new trend may have on the population, it is necessary to characterize the interaction between marijuana use and health outcomes. Previous research has focused on the acute effects of marijuana on mental health and longitudinal impacts of marijuana use in the adolescent population. However there are no previously published studies on the impact of early onset marijuana use on adult mental health.

AIM: This study aims to determine the prevalence of …

Investigating The Health Profile And Quality Of Life Of Adult Marijuana Users In The United States: Analysis Of Self-Reported Nhanes 2007-2010 Data, Crystal A. Lane

Public Health Theses

Background: Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States. Public approval of marijuana has driven its legalization in twenty states and the District of Columbia for medical use; and, this year alone (2013), two states have legalized recreational use of the drug. Despite the nation’s growing trend towards marijuana acceptance, the evidence regarding the health effects of its use remains vague. This study was designed to evaluate the health profile of marijuana users by determining the association of marijuana use with quality of life, defined in terms of perceived overall health and as self-reported medical conditions. …