Study: Legal Cannabis Seems to Reduce Synthetic Cannabinoid Use

Proponents of legal cannabis have a new study they can look to in support of their position. The study seems to suggest that synthetic cannabinoid use decreases when states legalize recreational cannabis. If the study’s results are ever verified by future research, it could change the way some lawmakers think about cannabis regulation.

The study in question was conducted by a team of researchers from a number of well-known universities. They examined 7,600 individual exposures to synthetic cannabinoids by way of data found in the National Poison Data System (NPDS). All the exposures occurred between 2016 and 2019.

For purposes of clarification, synthetic cannabinoids are products designed to mimic the effects of natural cannabis using synthetic compounds. Well-known products like Spice, K2, and Scoobie Snacks are all classified as synthetic cannabinoids. Some of these products can be dangerous.

What the Researchers Found

Although the total number of exposures reported during the study was 7600, the number per annum gradually declined over the four years of reported data. With that said, here is a sampling of what the researchers found:

• 8% of the exposures required medical attention
• At least sixty-one deaths were included in the 7600 exposures
• Annual exposures were 13% lower in states with medical cannabis programs
• Annual exposures were 37% lower in states with legal recreational cannabis.

The exposure rates are the most important to any discussion over whether cannabis legalization has any effect on synthetic cannabinoid use. The researchers behind this particular study insist that it does.

 Possible Explanations

Let us assume future studies produce similar data. What are the possible explanations for the phenomenon? Beginning with medical cannabis, we can safely assume there are people who use it even in states where it is illegal. We can say that because history demonstrates cannabis being used as a medicine for millennia.

In Utah, cannabis can only be used medically. Any patient with a valid medical cannabis card can walk into the Deseret Wellness pharmacy in Provo and purchase gummies, vapes, etc. If medical cannabis were still illegal in the Beehive State, patients would have to choose between obtaining illegal cannabis or using a synthetic product.

The same analysis can be applied to the recreational market. Where legal cannabis exists, there is less incentive to use synthetic products. Why go with a synthetic when you can have the real thing?

 Fear of Drug Tests

Another possible explanation is that some people use synthetic cannabinoid products in states where cannabis is illegal because they do not want to take any chances of failing a drug test.

Using Utah as an example again, the state legislature just passed a new law that prohibits public employers from treating medical cannabis differently than any other prescription medication. As long as public-sector employees use medical cannabis safely and in a way that does not inhibit their work performance, employers cannot penalize them for it.

What if medical cannabis were still illegal in the state? A patient might choose to use a synthetic cannabinoid that will not show up on a random drug test. Changes in state law minimize the incentive for Utah public-sector workers to go with synthetic cannabinoids.

It would appear as though legalizing cannabis does have an impact on synthetic cannabinoid use. However, reducing demand for synthetic cannabinoids is not sufficient reason, in and of itself, to legalize cannabis across the board. It is a valid reason to look more closely at the legalization question. In the meantime, the best way to reduce synthetic cannabinoid use is to educate people about how dangerous synthetic products can be.