Associations of Local Cannabis Policy and Retail Availability in Northern California With Adverse Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes.

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Substance Use & Misuse, 2026, v. 60, no. 10: Associations of Local Cannabis Policy and Retail Availability in Northern California With Adverse Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes.
• Journal Article:
  Substance Use & Misuse
• Personal Author:
  Silver, Lynn D. ; Slama, Natalie E. ; Dong, Huyun ; Padon, Alisa A. ; Pacula, Rosalie L. ; Alexeeff, Stacey E. ; Sterling, Stacy A. ; Dyer, Wendy T. ; Campbell, Cynthia I. ; Satre, Derek D. ; Lu, Yun ; Does, Monique B. ; Annam, Jay ; Young-Wolff, Kelly C.
• Description:
  Local policies prohibiting cannabis sales and lower cannabis retail availability are associated with a lower prevalence of adolescent cannabis use. In this study, we examined whether local prohibitions on cannabis retail and cannabis retailer proximity and density are associated with adverse cannabis-related mental health outcomes among adolescents.
  
  Cross-sectional study of 95,645 Northern California adolescents aged 13-17 who completed a well-check questionnaire in 2021 during standard pediatric care. Exposures included local bans on cannabis storefront and delivery retailers, and retail proximity and density in relation to adolescents' geocoded residences. Past-year psychotic, depressive, and anxiety disorders were identified using ICD codes; self-reported depression symptoms came from the questionnaire.
  
  Relative to adolescents in jurisdictions allowing storefront and delivery retail, those in jurisdictions prohibiting storefront retail only (aPR = 0.52; 95%CI: 0.32-0.85), or prohibiting both (aPR = 0.67; 95%CI: 0.48-0.92) had a lower prevalence of psychotic disorders. Greater retailer density (≥6
  
  0 retailers within a 15-min drive) was associated with a greater prevalence of anxiety disorders (aPR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.19), depressive disorders (aPR = 1.10; 95%CI: 1.02-1.19) and depression symptoms (aPR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.01-1.15). Having a ≥20-min (
  
  <5-min) drive to the nearest retailer was associated with a lower prevalence of psychotic (aPR = 0.53; 95%CI: 0.33-0.86), anxiety (aPR = 0.89; 95%CI: 0.82-0.97), and depressive disorders (aPR = 0.89; 95%CI: 0.81-0.98) and depression symptoms (aPR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.84-0.99).
  
  Local policies prohibiting storefront retail were associated with a lower prevalence of psychotic disorders. Greater retail availability of cannabis near adolescents' residences was associated with a greater prevalence of psychotic, anxiety, and depressive disorders, and depression symptoms. Policies limiting retail density and availability may help reduce cannabis-related harms and merit further assessment.
• Content Notes:
  Author manuscript
• Subjects:
  • Humans
  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Male
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Commerce
  • Cannabis
  • Marijuana Use
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Prevalence
  More +
• Keywords:
  • Adolescent
  • marijuana
  • policy
  • legalization
  • psychotic disorders
  • mental health
  • retailer
  • adolescents
• Source:
  Substance Use & Misuse, 2026, v. 60, no. 10
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2505145
• ISSN:
  1082-6084 ; 1532-2491
• Pubmed ID:
  40380774
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC12210822
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  R01 DA053192/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U01 IP000035/IP/NCIRD CDC HHSUnited States/
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California
• Pages in Document:
  1571-1576 (12 pdf pages)
• Volume:
  60
• Issue:
  10
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/261406/cdc_261406_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 120.87 KB]
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:20cb963978894b5852564a4a91714d5132e4ec4aef2f8b775aa69187916a7c92ade4f5302f74ff57424005957f11bc8c1ab17904256894c6f032aa80d3b0b3de