The US federal government’s continued criminalization of cannabis is leading to fragmented policy decisions and endangering public health, a new report argues.
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), ‘Cannabis Policy Impacts Public Health and Health Equity’, highlights the increasing need for a coordinated public health program to manage cannabis use and mitigate its associated harms.
It also calls for standards on cannabis quality and potency to be established on a national, federal level.
The report covers five key topics:
With high-potency cannabis continuing to flourish throughout the country, the report emphasises the need for effective public health surveillance systems to monitor consumption, emerging products and trends, and their associated health outcomes.
In order to achieve this, the report suggests the development of a standardized national tracking system.
It also called for the establishment of long-term studies to fully understand the health risks of cannabis consumption, utilizing real-time data from poison control centers and emergency departments.
Focusing on harm reduction, the report suggests that greater education of the public about safe cannabis use is needed.
Public health campaigns that inform consumers about safe usage, potential risks, and alternatives to smoking should be rolled out, while clear and standardized labelling on THC content should be established.
These initiatives should focus on promoting the use of less harmful forms of consumption, such as vaping.
Furthermore, policies to regulate the concentration of THC in products, particularly in edible and concentrated forms are recommended.
The report stresses the importance of integrating social justice into cannabis policy, acknowledging the historical injustices caused by criminalization.
It calls for policies that focus on restorative justice, such as automated expungement of cannabis-related criminal records and social justice programmes giving underrepresented communities access to the market.
Tax revenues should also go towards funding community development, drug treatment and job training programs were suggested, alongside efforts to promote diversity in cannabis business ownership through grants, loans and technical assistance.
It highlights the need for extensive and rigorous research into the health impacts of cannabis, particularly its long-term effects and interactions with other substances.
There is a strong call for federal funding to support independent studies on both medicinal and recreational cannabis.
To facilitate research, the report recommends simplifying federal regulations to allow researchers better access to high-quality cannabis samples.
This would enable deeper exploration of therapeutic uses and the effects of varying strains and consumption methods. Standardized clinical trial protocols are also advocated to guide this essential research.
Finally, the report stresses the importance of consistent regulations across states to ensure public safety, minimize confusion, and address enforcement challenges.
It advocates for federal guidelines on cannabis marketing, product standards, and THC potency limits while leaving room for state-specific adaptations.
Overregulation, the report warns, could push consumers toward illicit markets, so a balanced approach is necessary. It recommends federal-state coordination to foster uniform policies, encourage harm reduction strategies, and promote social equity measures.
Data sharing across jurisdictions is suggested to facilitate a harmonized approach to cannabis regulation.
A full copy of the report can be found here.
The post Cannabis Policy Report Emphasizes Research, Standardization, and Social Equity appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
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A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), ‘Cannabis Policy Impacts Public Health and Health Equity’, highlights the increasing need for a coordinated public health program to manage cannabis use and mitigate its associated harms.
It also calls for standards on cannabis quality and potency to be established on a national, federal level.
The report covers five key topics:
Public Health Monitoring
With high-potency cannabis continuing to flourish throughout the country, the report emphasises the need for effective public health surveillance systems to monitor consumption, emerging products and trends, and their associated health outcomes.
In order to achieve this, the report suggests the development of a standardized national tracking system.
It also called for the establishment of long-term studies to fully understand the health risks of cannabis consumption, utilizing real-time data from poison control centers and emergency departments.
Harm Reduction
Focusing on harm reduction, the report suggests that greater education of the public about safe cannabis use is needed.
Public health campaigns that inform consumers about safe usage, potential risks, and alternatives to smoking should be rolled out, while clear and standardized labelling on THC content should be established.
These initiatives should focus on promoting the use of less harmful forms of consumption, such as vaping.
Furthermore, policies to regulate the concentration of THC in products, particularly in edible and concentrated forms are recommended.
Social Equity and Justice
The report stresses the importance of integrating social justice into cannabis policy, acknowledging the historical injustices caused by criminalization.
It calls for policies that focus on restorative justice, such as automated expungement of cannabis-related criminal records and social justice programmes giving underrepresented communities access to the market.
Tax revenues should also go towards funding community development, drug treatment and job training programs were suggested, alongside efforts to promote diversity in cannabis business ownership through grants, loans and technical assistance.
Ongoing Research
It highlights the need for extensive and rigorous research into the health impacts of cannabis, particularly its long-term effects and interactions with other substances.
There is a strong call for federal funding to support independent studies on both medicinal and recreational cannabis.
To facilitate research, the report recommends simplifying federal regulations to allow researchers better access to high-quality cannabis samples.
This would enable deeper exploration of therapeutic uses and the effects of varying strains and consumption methods. Standardized clinical trial protocols are also advocated to guide this essential research.
Policy Recommendations
Finally, the report stresses the importance of consistent regulations across states to ensure public safety, minimize confusion, and address enforcement challenges.
It advocates for federal guidelines on cannabis marketing, product standards, and THC potency limits while leaving room for state-specific adaptations.
Overregulation, the report warns, could push consumers toward illicit markets, so a balanced approach is necessary. It recommends federal-state coordination to foster uniform policies, encourage harm reduction strategies, and promote social equity measures.
Data sharing across jurisdictions is suggested to facilitate a harmonized approach to cannabis regulation.
A full copy of the report can be found here.
The post Cannabis Policy Report Emphasizes Research, Standardization, and Social Equity appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
Continue reading...
