Cannabis Public Health Research Reveals Usage
Thunder Bay, Ont. Study “Not a True Picture” But Provides Helpful Information about Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis Use – LPC
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) released cannabis public health research about cannabis usage in Thunder Bay, Ont. and region. The non-scientific poll of 1,900 residents in the district revealed that a blurred line between medical cannabis and recreational cannabis.
“There are a lot of different reasons that people use cannabis,” said TBDHU health promotion planner Sheena Albanese. “We asked about recreational use versus use for medical purposes, and what we found is there is a lot of overlap between those two. The boundaries between medical use and recreational use (are) blurred.”
Of the cannabis users, only nine percent use it medically with a prescription. Fourteen per cent said they used it medically without a prescription while 58 per cent said they consume recreational cannabis. About half – 47 per cent – said they never use it at all.
One thing Albanese found alarming in terms of cannabis public health was lack of education. But that’s something that has already changed, she said. TBDHU rolled out several education sessions including live-streaming events, information about impaired driving, and edibles safety. Similar cannabis campaigns have launched around Canada including “Point Out the Pot” in Manitoba.
More research like this is needed. Although there are many public health benefits to legalized cannabis, many health professionals have concerns. Lack of cannabis research is in itself a risk to public health. Cannabis public health research can only shed light on concerns so that health care professionals can address them and make cannabis safer for everyone.
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