Public health advocates say a new study published in the journal of the American Medical Association highlights the need to screen for cannabis use disorder in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized.
The study surveyed primary care patients in Washington state, and found that more than 20% of respondents who use cannabis have a use disorder.
In Maine, the increased availability of recreational cannabis is resulting in more disordered use, says Becky Ireland of the University of New England's Center for Excellence in Public Health.
"So when we look at adult Mainers as a whole, one in 10 meet the criteria for cannabis substance use disorders," she says. " If we look at a smaller group of Mainers, the Mainers who use cannabis at least monthly, amongst that subset of Maine, one in 3 of them meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder."
Ireland says Maine should look for ways to make sure that the public is aware of the risks associated with cannabis use, such as impaired driving, mental health problems, as well as brain development and cardiovascular issues.
