In recent decades, the number of marijuana dispensaries has grown as states and municipalities try to raise revenue and legalize what many consider a recreational and medical drug.
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia allow the recreational and medical use of marijuana, and a total of forty-one states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of marijuana, according to MJ Biz Daily.
And a drug that is mostly smoked has taken new forms as well. Edibles and potables are becoming increasingly popular, and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the ingredient that gets people high, lasts longer in the system with edibles than smoking and vaping. Another consideration is the strength of today’s marijuana. “Overall, the potency of illicit cannabis plant material has steadily increased over time since 1995 from about 4% in 1995 to about 12% in 2014.Cannabis seized by the DEA shows THC elevations over 15 percent.
Substance Use & Men
Not surprisingly, boys and men are more likely to use cannabis, a trend that models other substances such as alcohol, amphetamines and other drugs. Educational attainment plays a role in substance use. Young men who do not enter college and careers directly out of high school are particularly vulnerable. Although marijuana use is increasing among college students and both men and women, men with lower levels of education, particularly high school dropouts, are even more susceptible.
Trends in the prevalence of marijuana use among non-college students and college students 1 to 4 years after high school show male disparities in substance use for those not enrolled in college as well as for men enrolled in college (Results of the National Survey on Drug Use).
Although there has been an increase in cannabis use among men and women, consecutive research on cannabis (2002 and 2014) showed that men accounted for 60% of past-year marijuana users in 2002 and 61% of past-year marijuana users in 2014.
And now that cannabis is an emerging and rapidly changing industry, research is trying to keep up with the effects of increased use and higher levels of THC in cannabis products.
According to an NIH press release“Near-daily cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, and new schizophrenia diagnoses are higher among men than women, and that early, frequent cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.”
Legalization and what it means for men and boys
In a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, employers also take into account, as “25-year record: Drug tests reveal rise in worker marijuana use as more states legalize.”
Substance use that impairs judgment, not just substance abuse but substance use, is a particularly important issue for men, who are more likely to use substances to a greater extent.
even though the WSJ reported that “marijuana was the main driver of the increase in positive drug tests, [and that] more tests were also positive for amphetamines,” did not examine gender differences in substance use. With 92% of workplace deaths being men and men in occupations that may lend themselves to substance use and potential abuse, an Office of Men’s Health that tracks such data would be essential. (There is no federal office for men’s health, but there is a federal office for women’s health).
“A study among postal workers found that workers who tested positive for marijuana in a pre-employment urine test had 55% more workplace accidents, 85% more injuries, and 75% more absenteeism compared to those who tested negative for marijuana use »NIH).
More research is needed
More work is needed on the effects of marijuana and men as the cannabis industry continues to grow with profits expected to reach tens of billions in the next decade and new marketing strategies aimed at younger customers who may be more susceptible if life has less supply.
