The impact of Cannabis market Regulation on adolescents in Uruguay

Background:

In 2013 the regulation of cannabis market was established in Uruguay by the Law 19.172. This regulation provides legal access to cannabis by three different mechanisms: cannabis membership clubs, domestic cultivation and to purchase in pharmacies. 

Although access to legal cannabis is only allowed for adults (people over 17 years old), policymakers and professionals are concerned about the impacts of this policy change on adolescents because they are a vulnerable population. Previous this policy change, national and international experts made the following hypotheses about the potential effects of this new policy among adolescents:

1 - There will be an increase in cannabis consumption due the decrease in risk perception in the context of the legal access to the substance.

2 - There will be an increase in cannabis consumption due to the greater substance availability and legitimacy. 

3 - The age of onset of cannabis use will decrease 

4 - There will be an increase in problematic cannabis use due to the greater potency (THC) of cannabis

Uruguay has established as one of the most relevant goals to monitor and evaluate the Cannabis market regulation. The previous hypotheses included several of the indicators that Drug Observatory of Uruguay – National Drug Secretariat monitors the policy change.

Methods:

National Surveys of drug consumption in middle school students of Uruguay for the period 2003 to 2021 data analysis taking into account the following indicators: cannabis use prevalence (lifetime, 12 months past use, 30 days past use), risk perception about cannabis use, perception of the ease of access of cannabis, average age of onset of cannabis use, prevalence of problematic cannabis use. The National Survey of drug consumption in middle school students of Uruguay is conducted every two years. 

Results:

-The prevalence of cannabis uses among middle school students remained stable since 2016

-There is a significant decrease in risk perception of cannabis use until 2014, and after that, the data remains stable until 2021.

-The perception of the ease of access to cannabis shows a growing trend that begins prior to regulation of cannabis market and extends to 2018, and then it remined stable until 2021.

-The average age of onset of cannabis use among middle school students did not change over the years

-The prevalence of problematic cannabis use among middle school students remained stable over the years

Conclusions:

Cannabis market regulation should be monitored and evaluated in the short and long term to provide scientific evidence to stakeholder and policymakers. The scientific evidence provides input to improve the National Drug Policy.

According to the trend analysis available until now (latest date: 2021), it is not possible to accept the abovementioned hypotheses regarding to the impacts of the regulation of the cannabis market in Uruguay on adolescents.