Maryland Launches Dashboard To Track Impacts Of Cannabis Use
Source: The Washington Post / Getty
The Maryland Department of Health announced that they have launched a dashboard to track the impacts of cannabis use on public health over one year after recreational usage was legalized.
The tool provides user-friendly visualizations of cannabis trends before and after the legalization of adult-use cannabis.
Recreational cannabis was legalized in Maryland back in July 2023, and on the first day of legalization, the industry saw over $4.5 million in sales.
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According to the Department of Health, The Maryland Cannabis Public Health Data Dashboard provides data on the following:
- Emergency department visits
- Youth and adult use
- Calls to the Maryland and D.C. poison centers
- Substance use services utilization
“Monitoring the public health impacts of adult-use cannabis legalization, which took place just over a year ago, is essential,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “By tracking key indicators, we can create programs and resources aimed at preventing youth cannabis use, promoting safe storage of products to prevent accidental poisonings, and ensuring that existing services effectively support Marylanders facing adverse effects from cannabis use.”
Additionally, dashboard users will be able to analyze subpopulations based on age, race, ethnicity, and gender.
According to the 2022-23 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Study and the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, while Cannabis use among youth in Maryland has been declining since before adult-use cannabis was legalized, data show there was a slight increase in cannabis use among adults, from 9% in 2021 to 11.7% in 2022.
“Collecting and sharing data on a platform like the Maryland Cannabis Public Health Data Dashboard informs evidence-based policy decisions, ensures efficient resource allocation, and aids in the evaluation of public health interventions. Furthermore, this dashboard will help to identify health disparities ensuring that vulnerable populations receive appropriate attention,” said Maryland Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council Chairperson Dr. Deondra Asike.
Click here to view the dashboard.
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