A very important study will be published by Johnny’s Ambassadors Scientific Advisory Board member, Dr. Christian Thurstone, et. al. in the journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence in August 2025.
Using data from Denver Health between 2005 and 2020, we examined associations between implementation of the Ogden Memo (expanding use of medical cannabis in Colorado, October 2009) and Amendment 64 (legalizing adult-use cannabis in Colorado, November 2012) and trends in psychosis-related emergency department and hospital visits with and without cannabis use disorder (CUD) among youth aged 10–29.
Findings suggest an increase in overall hospital encounters for psychosis among youth after the legalization of recreational cannabis. We also found a significant rise in psychosis hospitalizations that specifically contain a CUD diagnosis following legalization across all age groups. Given the adoption of increasingly permissive cannabis laws, there is a need to plan effective public health responses that could mitigate unintended consequences related to cannabis use.