International Journal on Criminology Volume 6, Number 2, Winter 2018/Spring 2019 | Page 22

The Legalization of Cannabis in the United States and Uruguay: Initial Findings
modify the trend observed over the past decade, in other words the strong increase
in cannabis consumption among the general population, and in particular among
young people against the backdrop of a decrease in perceived dangers. It should be
noted, however, that the main means of supply, its sale in pharmacies, was not yet
in place when the last statistical measurements were carried out (in 2014).
The Initial Consequences in Terms of Public Health?
In the two US states, the most noticeable development in terms of public health
has been the increase in cannabis use-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
This trend is most pronounced in Colorado, even though these
cases only account for a small proportion of hospital activity. It is primarily related
to the consumption of “edibles,” which now make up nearly 40 percent of the
cannabis market, and a lack of understanding of the effects of cannabis-infused
products (which should not be ingested in large quantities over a short period
of time before the first effects have been felt). In Colorado, tourists account for
the majority of this population. There has also been an increase in the number of
young children hospitalized due to accidental cannabis intoxication. However, despite
its strong presence in the media, the occurrence of this has remained limited
(to a few dozen cases).
The main concern of health professionals is the drop in demand for treatment
for cannabis dependence. In fact, while the number of problem users of cannabis
remains high, with 20 percent of consumers purchasing 85-90 percent of
legally-sold marijuana, 5 demand for treatment has fallen, at least in Washington
State. The demand for treatment is stable in Colorado, except for with those over
the age of twenty-five—which is hardly surprising if we take into account the doubling
of monthly consumption in this age category since 2012—who now represent
more than half of those being treated, compared to more than a third ten years ago.
Whatever the situation, it is hard to predict the long-term health effects of
“models” that, given the diversity of the products on offer (weed, oil, edibles), are
based more on a mass commercialization of THC (the active constituent of cannabis)
than on a legalization of cannabis. 6
A “Good Move” in Economic Terms?
In Uruguay, the state has played a large role in the country’s regulatory policy,
in a desire to neutralize the black market with low prices (and therefore lower
taxes). In the United States, by contrast, the supply of cannabis and its deriv-
5 Richard Hetu, “Cannabis: Éviter le piège américain.” L’actualité. July 17, 2017.
6 Ben Cort, Weed, Inc.: The Truth About THC, the Pot Lobby and the Commercial Marijuana Industry
(Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 2017).
19