CANNABIS & OTHER SUBSTANCES

From gas stations and internet outlets to specialty shops and cannabis dispensaries, today’s retail environment makes a wide range of potentially harmful and frequently underregulated substances easily accessible to youth and adults alike. To be sure, decriminalization of drug possession and use—especially with respect to cannabis—is an important step towards health equity and repairing the damage to communities and individuals caused by punitive and discriminatory drug laws. However, commercialization of cannabis and other substances has presented an array of new public health, safety, and social justice challenges. Some of these challenges can be addressed through evidence-based strategies, similar to comprehensive commercial tobacco control policies, while others require novel legal and policy interventions to reduce potential harm to the public.