When Minnesotans discussed legalizing the medical use of cannabis in 2013, few scientific studies existed that documented its benefits. The studies that did exist had major methodologic limitations. There were no scientific studies that demonstrated the benefits of legalizing use of cannabis by the general public.
This paucity of data was the basis of my contention, as Minnesota's commissioner of health, that legalizing the use of cannabis was not warranted at that time.
The passionate advocacy of individuals and families suffering from diseases and conditions they thought could be effectively treated by medical cannabis convinced the Legislature to legalize the medical use of cannabis. In response, the Minnesota Department of Health established a medical cannabis program that was as evidence-based as possible and included a limited number of conditions it could be prescribed for. It provided for data collection and analysis of the effectiveness of medical cannabis and allowed for the addition of conditions as new evidence of effectiveness emerged.
The outcomes experienced in the program have lessened my skepticism about the benefits of medical cannabis. While more studies are needed about how best to use this drug to treat specific diseases and conditions, I now believe it has a legitimate place in medicine's pharmacopeia. My skepticism remains, however, about legalizing cannabis for open adult use. With the exception of decriminalization (an important issue that can be addressed in other ways), the existing data and research studies demonstrate that legalizing open adult use of cannabis portends detrimental effects on our society.
The negative effects of cannabis on the developing brain, and driving under the influence, are the two most widely shared concerns. But information recently released by Boynton Health at the University of Minnesota ("High students get lower GPAs," Feb. 21) opens new areas of disquiet about the effects of cannabis. While the news article highlights the negative effect of regular cannabis use on grade-point average, other results from the survey of 10,579 students in postsecondary education throughout Minnesota are even more disturbing.
College students who have used cannabis within the last 30 days experience sexually transmitted infections at a rate 3.5 times higher than their noncannabis-using peers. They are also more than twice as likely to experience an unintended pregnancy and 2.5 times as likely to be sexually assaulted. Domestic violence is also nearly twice as likely among regular cannabis users compared to nonusers.
These data raise concerns about the wisdom of legalizing open adult use of cannabis without a great deal more research about its impacts.
The Minnesota College Student Health Survey data also draw attention to cannabis use and mental health conditions. Cannabis use among college students is associated with a nearly 1.5 to 2 times higher rate of myriad mental health conditions (anorexia, anxiety, ADD, bipolar, PTSD, depression, OCD, bulimia and social phobias) compared to noncannabis-using students. It is postulated that many of these students are using cannabis to treat their mental health conditions without the benefit of professional support. This underscores the need for more studies examining the role of cannabis in the medical treatment of mental illness.
