Study: Dispensaries Cut Down Heavy Drinking

As cannabis legalization expands across the United States, conversations continue to evolve about how increased access affects public health. A growing body of research now suggests that cannabis dispensaries may have a broader impact on community behavior than previously understood. Beyond simply providing regulated access to cannabis products, these retailers may influence patterns of alcohol use, particularly among adults who live nearby. Recent findings shed light on how shifts in cannabis policy can influence drinking habits and potentially contribute to healthier lifestyle outcomes.

Adults who reside in close proximity to licensed cannabis dispensaries are less likely to engage in binge drinking, according to data published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Oregon State University researchers assessed the relationship between local retail cannabis access and adults' use of marijuana and alcohol over eight years.

They reported that proximity to cannabis retailers was associated with increased cannabis use by adults, but not by minors. They also reported that cannabis access was inversely associated with heavy alcohol use by young adults (those ages 21 to 24 years old) and seniors (those ages 65 and older).

"Consistent with substitution, … older adults and young adults showed access-related decreases in binge drinking," the study's authors reported.

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