Analysis reveals that cannabis and alcohol policies influence college students' substance use patterns, suggesting policy implications.
College students' substance use was sensitive to state cannabis policies after accounting for state alcohol policies. In states with less restrictive cannabis policies, cannabis use and co-use were more common, suggesting complementarity. Within non-legal states, more restrictive alcohol policies were linked to higher cannabis use odds, suggesting substitution. State CPS and APS scores may inform policymakers' efforts to reduce college students' substance use. Future studies should replicate findings in contemporary cohorts, explore social justice implications, and consider concurrent campus and community policies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hummel et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: