A recent study revealed how nearly 6 out of every 10 neighborhoods are located in close proximity of a cannabis dispensary.
Four years ago, Canada legalized cannabis for adult use. A recent study now shows that nearly 6 out of every 10 neighborhoods in the country are located within a 5-minute drive of a cannabis dispensary (1). By having such an abundance of dispensaries within reach, the study showed the high level of access accessible to users.
The study was published by Drug and Alcohol Review and was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2). Several universities and research institutions in Ottawa and Toronto helped gather the data needed. During the study, researchers found that over the four-year timespan, only 7% of retail cannabis stores closed.
“Over 4 years, per capita stores and per capita sales increased each year by an average of 122.3% and 91.7%, respectively, with larger increases in private versus public systems (4.01 times greater for per capita stores and 2.46 times greater for per capita sales),” the researchers said (1).
Several studies have shown encouraging signs in neighborhoods where legal cannabis dispensaries are established. The University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico) performed a study in 2021 that revealed a fall in unemployment in Colorado counties where dispensaries opened post-legalization, compared to counties where dispensaries did not open (3).
Another 2021 study produced results that showed having more access through medical and recreational storefront dispensaries were associated with reduced opioid related death rates, especially with deaths involving synthetic opioids such as, fentanyl (4).
References
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.