A recent study published in the Journal of Health Economics reveals that legalizing marijuana can lead to a decrease in the use of regular tobacco cigarettes.
The researchers from Bentley University, San Diego State University, and Georgia State University used data from federal sources like the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) survey by the FDA and NIH, as well as the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by SAMHSA.
This study is the first to comprehensively explore how legalizing recreational marijuana impacts tobacco use.
Historically, the Surgeon General’s report on smoking’s health impacts led to a noteworthy drop in cigarette smoking rates.
When combined with the rise in adult e-cigarette usage, marijuana can offer an alternative to people struggling with nicotine addiction and other associated dependencies caused by tobacco.
Marijuana can be consumed through methods that don’t involve smoking, such as vaporizers, edibles, and oils. Some of these methods include tobacco-free vape liquids, which are non-combustible options to reduce exposure to the dangers of combusted tobacco.
By offering a legal and regulated alternative, recreational marijuana legalization can promote harm reduction policies. This gives individuals a way to satisfy their cravings without facing the well-known risks of tobacco smoking.
The study found evidence supporting the idea that adopting state recreational marijuana laws slightly increased cannabis use among adults, while tobacco use didn’t follow the same trend.
This could be due to people substituting cigarettes with legally available marijuana. In simpler terms, if marijuana becomes legally accessible for recreational use, those who might otherwise use tobacco could choose to use marijuana instead.
A significant portion of US adult voters, as per Pew Research Center, support legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use – 88% are in favor, with 59% believing it should be openly legal nationwide.
Aligning regulations for both marijuana and tobacco can support harm reduction while ensuring that consumers are informed about the risks of both substances.
