Cannabis: Responding to the Evolving Landscape

Many states have gone down the road of legalization of cannabis for medical and/or recreational reasons. This session will help attendees to navigate the evolving landscape.

Brooke Hoots will describe the current legal status of medical and nonmedical cannabis use in the United States and current national trends in use, mode of use, and medical use.

Richard Holdman will present findings from Colorado since the state allowed cannabis to be sold to the public via regulated, licensed retail dispensaries in 2014. The basis of his presentation will be the group of professionals who have met on a quarterly basis over the past nine years, as directed by Colorado statute, to evaluate the ever-changing science behind cannabis use, investigate epidemiologic trends related to cannabis use in Colorado, and provide public health recommendations based on these findings.

Because one of the platforms to legalize marijuana is that it will help our national opioid epidemic, Kenneth Finn will consider current science on the cannabis/opioid connection. Despite decreasing opioid prescriptions nationwide, drug overdose deaths continue to rise. Beyond that, there is an increasing public health and safety concern which will be described.