The Maryland Department of Health has introduced a cutting-edge dashboard to track the public health impacts of cannabis use, marking over a year since the state legalized recreational cannabis. This tool offers insights into cannabis trends and usage, providing valuable data for policymakers and public health experts to address emerging concerns.
Tracking the Impacts of Legalization
Recreational cannabis became legal in Maryland in July 2023, generating an impressive $4.5 million in sales on the first day. Since then, stakeholders have focused on understanding its effects on public health. The newly launched Maryland Cannabis Public Health Data Dashboard aggregates critical data, including:
- Emergency department visits
- Youth and adult cannabis usage trends
- Poison center call volumes
- Utilization of substance use services
- General health impacts related to cannabis use
Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Maryland’s Deputy Secretary for Public Health, emphasized the importance of such monitoring:
“By tracking key indicators, we can create programs and resources aimed at preventing youth cannabis use, promoting safe storage of products to prevent accidental poisonings, and ensuring that existing services effectively support Marylanders facing adverse effects from cannabis use.”
The dashboard allows users to examine cannabis-related trends across various subpopulations based on age, race, ethnicity, and gender.
Decline in Youth Cannabis Use
Despite concerns surrounding legalization, youth cannabis usage in Maryland has been declining. Findings from the 2022-23 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Study and the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey highlight this trend, which began even before legalization.
In contrast, adult cannabis use saw a modest rise, increasing from 9% in 2021 to 11.7% in 2022.
Challenges in Public Health
While some trends are promising, others raise red flags. The dashboard reveals significant increases in cannabis-related health issues:
- Emergency room visits tied to cannabis among adults aged 20 to 29 surged by nearly 44%.
- Calls to poison centers serving Maryland residents more than doubled for children under 9 years old and tripled for those aged 10 to 14 between 2021 and 2023.
Dr. Deondra Asike, Chairperson of the Maryland Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council, highlighted the importance of data-driven approaches:
“Collecting and sharing data on a platform like the Maryland Cannabis Public Health Data Dashboard informs evidence-based policy decisions, ensures efficient resource allocation, and aids in the evaluation of public health interventions. Furthermore, this dashboard will help to identify health disparities, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive appropriate attention.”
A Holistic Approach to Cannabis Monitoring
The dashboard serves as a vital tool for:
- Crafting evidence-based policies to address cannabis-related health concerns.
- Promoting responsible usage, particularly among youth and vulnerable populations.
- Allocating resources efficiently to mitigate adverse health effects.
As Maryland continues to monitor the impacts of legalization, this initiative sets a benchmark for other states seeking to balance public health priorities with cannabis legalization.
