Home > Use of an inappropriate control period when exploring the impacts of cannabis legalization.

Smyth, Bobby P and McCarron, Peter (2026) Use of an inappropriate control period when exploring the impacts of cannabis legalization. American Journal of Public Health, 116, (2), pp. 182-183. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2025.308307.


In their article on cannabis-related hospitalizations across 2015 to 2022, Myran et al. make the strong conclusion that “legalization in Canada was associated with reductions in cannabis related hospitalizations for youths below the [minimum legal age].”1(p1166) This conclusion seems excessive. It could cause policymakers globally to think that a move from prohibition to legalization may yield health benefits for children and adolescents.

Item Type
Article
Publication Type
International, Article
Drug Type
Cannabis
Intervention Type
Prevention, Harm reduction, Policy
Date
February 2026
Identification #
https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2025.308307
Page Range
pp. 182-183
Publisher
American Public Health Association
Volume
116
Number
2
EndNote
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