Legalization of marijuana or not? Opinions from over 38,000 residents in Taiwan.
Cannabidiol (CBD)
Cannabis
Legalization
Marijuana
Medical marijuana
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 10 2023
09 10 2023
Historique:
received:
27
07
2023
accepted:
25
09
2023
medline:
1
11
2023
pubmed:
10
10
2023
entrez:
9
10
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Marijuana is legal in many Western countries and Thailand. In Taiwan, Marijuana remains a category-2 narcotic; however, some legislative candidates recently advocated legalization of medical marijuana. This study surveyed a large sample of Taiwanese to gain a better understanding of the public's knowledge and attitudes towards legalizing marijuana. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study included demographic data and responses to a survey questionnaire, "Knowledge and Attitudes of Legalizing Marijuana" (KALM). The survey included 15 statements about four categories: public health, social impact, medical applications of THC (Δ Data were analysed from 38,502 respondents, aged 15 to > 56 years. Most were female (67.1%) and parents (76.4%). Scores were higher for respondents who were parents, religious, ≥ 36 years of age, had a high-income status, no history of substance abuse, knowledge of medical marijuana, and did not support legalization of marijuana. Medical personnel had greater knowledge of marijuana, but their attitude indicated they viewed legalization as less important. In the open-ended question, many respondents requested more information about marijuana be provided to the public before considering legalization. Taiwanese respondents considered legalization of marijuana a significant concern, especially as it relates to impacts on public health.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Marijuana is legal in many Western countries and Thailand. In Taiwan, Marijuana remains a category-2 narcotic; however, some legislative candidates recently advocated legalization of medical marijuana. This study surveyed a large sample of Taiwanese to gain a better understanding of the public's knowledge and attitudes towards legalizing marijuana.
METHODS
This cross-sectional mixed-methods study included demographic data and responses to a survey questionnaire, "Knowledge and Attitudes of Legalizing Marijuana" (KALM). The survey included 15 statements about four categories: public health, social impact, medical applications of THC (Δ
RESULTS
Data were analysed from 38,502 respondents, aged 15 to > 56 years. Most were female (67.1%) and parents (76.4%). Scores were higher for respondents who were parents, religious, ≥ 36 years of age, had a high-income status, no history of substance abuse, knowledge of medical marijuana, and did not support legalization of marijuana. Medical personnel had greater knowledge of marijuana, but their attitude indicated they viewed legalization as less important. In the open-ended question, many respondents requested more information about marijuana be provided to the public before considering legalization.
CONCLUSIONS
Taiwanese respondents considered legalization of marijuana a significant concern, especially as it relates to impacts on public health.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37814243
doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16834-x
pii: 10.1186/s12889-023-16834-x
pmc: PMC10563234
doi:
Substances chimiques
Medical Marijuana
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1954Informations de copyright
© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
Références
Hall W, Stjepanovic D, Caulkins J, Lynskey M, Leung J, Campbell G, et al. Public health implications of legalising the production and sale of cannabis for medicinal and recreational use. Lancet. 2019;394(10208):1580–90.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31789-1
pubmed: 31657733
H BJ. Legislator Bai-Wei Chen supported the legalization of marijuana, not only for medical use but also for recreational use. The Commons Daily. 2021. https://www.mypeoplevol.com/Article/6893 Accessed 27 July 2023.
Kaushal T. Weed legalization: Here’s where states stand in 2023. Yahoo!Finance. 2023. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/weed-legalization-heres-where-states-stand-in-2023-180627357 .html Accessed 27 July 2023.
Myran DT, Cantor N, Finkelstein Y, Pugliese M, Guttmann A, Jesseman R, et al. Unintentional Pediatric Cannabis Exposures after legalization of recreational Cannabis in Canada. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2142521.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.42521
pubmed: 34994796
pmcid: 8742190
Editorial. Paediatricians warn of addiction among children as cannabis legalised. The National Thailand. 2022. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016542 Accessed 27 July 2023.
Johnston LD, Miech RA, O ’ Malley PM, Bachman JG, Schulenberg JE, Patric ME. Monitoring the future national survey results on drug use. Overview Key Findings on Adolescent Drug Use. 1975–2020. Institute for Social Research. 2021 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED611736.pdf Accessed 27 July 2023.
Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Drug Abuse and Stastatics. 2019. https://www.fda.gov.tw/tc/includes/GetFile.ashx?id=f637580670512541249 &type=3&iid=11236 Accessed 27 July 2023.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine? National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2021. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-safe-effective-medicine Accessed 27 July 2023.
Stockings E, Zagic D, Campbell G, Weier M, Hall WD, Nielsen S, et al. Evidence for cannabis and cannabinoids for epilepsy: a systematic review of controlled and observational evidence. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2018;89(7):741–53.
doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-317168
pubmed: 29511052
Smith LA, Azariah F, Lavender VT, Stoner NS, Bettiol S. Cannabinoids for nausea and vomiting in adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(11):CD009464.
pubmed: 26561338
pmcid: 6931414
Bridgeman MB, Abazia DT. Medicinal Cannabis: history, Pharmacology, and implications for the Acute Care setting. P T. 2017;42(3):180–8.
pubmed: 28250701
pmcid: 5312634
Caulkins JP, Kilmer B, Kleiman MAR, MacCoun RJ, Midgette G, Oglesby P, et al. Considering marijuana legalization: insights for Vermont and other jurisdictions. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corp.; 2015. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR864.html . Accessed 27 July 2023.
doi: 10.7249/RR864
Reinhart RJ. In the News: Marijuana Legalization. Gallop. 2018. https://news.gallup.com/poll/225017/news-marijuana-legalization.aspx Accessed 27 July 2023.
Gilchrist K. These European countries are pushing to legalize weed — but the EU is not on board. CNBC. 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/11/germany-czechia-luxembourg-netherlands-push-to-legalize-cannabis.html Accessed 27 July 2023.
Israel GD, PEOD-6. Determining Sample Size. University of Florida: IFAS extension, 1992. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Subhash_Basu3/post/What-is-the-minimum-sample-size-for-online-survey/attachment/5ec41296ead4db0001569d28/AS%3A892953522364416%401589908118112/download/samplesize1.pdf . Accessed 27 July 2023.
Weber CAT, da Silva AG. Medical marijuana: what are we talking about? Braz J Psychiatry. 2022;44(6):574–5.
pubmed: 35914740
pmcid: 9851757
Silczuk A, Smulek D, Kolodziej M, Gujska J. The Construct of Medical and non-medical marijuana-critical review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):2769.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19052769
pubmed: 35270462
pmcid: 8910105
Thompson R, DeJong K, Lo J. Marijuana use in pregnancy: a review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2019;74(7):415–28.
doi: 10.1097/OGX.0000000000000685
pubmed: 31343707
pmcid: 7090387
Berenson A, Marijuana. Mental illness, and violence. Mo Med. 2019;116(6):446–9.
pubmed: 31911714
pmcid: 6913867
Carabellese F, Candelli C, Martinelli D, La Tegola D, Catanesi R. Cannabis use and violent behaviour: a psychiatric patients cohort study in Southern Italy. Riv Psichiatr. 2013;48(1):43–50.
pubmed: 23438700
Petrilli K, Ofori S, Hines L, Taylor G, Adams S, Freeman TP. Association of cannabis potency with mental ill health and addiction: a systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry. 2022;9(9):736–50.
doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(22)00161-4
pubmed: 35901795
Hunt J, Economic, and Social Costs of Legalized Marijuana. Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University. 2018. https://centennial.ccu.edu/policy-briefs/marijuana-costs/ Accessed 27 July 2023.
World Health Organization (WHO). The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use. 2016 https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789241510240 Accessed 27 July 2023.
Lynn MR. Determination and quantification of content validity. Nurs Res. 1986;35:382–5.
doi: 10.1097/00006199-198611000-00017
pubmed: 3640358
Bentler PM. Comfirmatory factor analysis via noniterative estimation: a fast, inexpensive method. J Mark Res. 1983;19:417–24.
doi: 10.1177/002224378201900403
Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Res Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.
doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Sandelowski M. What’s in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Res Nurs Health. 2010;33(1):77–84.
doi: 10.1002/nur.20362
pubmed: 20014004
Frendreis J, Tatalovich R. Postmaterialism and referenda voting to legalize marijuana. Int J Drug Policy. 2020;75:102595.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.11.003
pubmed: 31739149
Davenport SS, Caulkins JP. Evolution of the United States Marijuana Market in the Decade of Liberalization before full legalization. J Durg Issues. 2016;46(4):411–27.
doi: 10.1177/0022042616659759
Doll R. Tobacco: a medical history. J Urban Health. 1999;76(3):289–313.
doi: 10.1007/BF02345669
pubmed: 12607897
pmcid: 3456831
Mishra S, Mishra MB, Tobacco. Its historical, cultural, oral, and periodontal health association. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2013;3(1):12–8.
doi: 10.4103/2231-0762.115708
pubmed: 24478974
pmcid: 3894096
Jones TM, Eisenberg N, Kosterman R, Lee JO, Bailey JA, Haggerty KP. Parents’ perceptions of adolescent exposure to Marijuana following legalization in Washington State. J Soc Social Work Res. 2020;11(1):21–38.
doi: 10.1086/707642
pubmed: 33841719
pmcid: 8034260
Hughes AR, Grusing S, Lin A, Hendrickson RG, Sheridan DC, Marshall R, et al. Trends in intentional abuse and misuse ingestions in school-aged children and adolescents reported to US poison centers from 2000–2020. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023;61(1):64–71.
doi: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2120818
pubmed: 36469528
Gobbi G, Atkin T, Zytynski T, Wang S, Askari S, Boruff J, et al. Association of Cannabis Use in Adolescence and Risk of Depression, anxiety, and suicidality in Young Adulthood: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(4):426–34.
doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4500
pubmed: 30758486
pmcid: 6450286
Fischer AS, Tapert SF, Lee Louie D, Schatzberg AF, Singh MK. Cannabis and the developing adolescent brain. Curr Treat Options Psychiatry. 2020;7(2):144–61.
doi: 10.1007/s40501-020-00202-2
pubmed: 32714742
pmcid: 7380653
Braun IM, Wright A, Peteet J, Meyer FL, Yuppa DP, Bolcic-Jankovic D, et al. Medical Oncologists’ beliefs, Practices, and knowledge regarding marijuana used therapeutically: a nationally Representative Survey Study. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(19):1957–62.
doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.76.1221
pubmed: 29746226
pmcid: 6553839
Pratt M, Stevens A, Thuku M, Butler C, Skidmore B, Wieland LS, et al. Benefits and harms of medical cannabis: a scoping review of systematic reviews. Syst Rev. 2019;8(1):320.
doi: 10.1186/s13643-019-1243-x
pubmed: 31823819
pmcid: 6905063
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Cannabis Tax Revenue in States that Regulate Cannabis for Adult Use. 2022. https://www.mpp.org/issues/legalization/cannabis-tax-revenue-states-regulate-cannabis-adult-use/ Accessed 27 July 2023.
Testai FD, Gorelick PB, Aparicio HJ, Filbey FM, Gonzalez R, Gottesman RF, et al. Use of Marijuana: Effect on Brain Health: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. Stroke. 2022;53(4):e176–e87.
doi: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000396
pubmed: 35142225
Andrade C. The Limitations of online surveys. Indian J Psychol Med. 2020;42(6):575–6.
doi: 10.1177/0253717620957496
pubmed: 33354086
pmcid: 7735245
Gordon WJ, Wright A, Aiyagari R, Corbo L, Glynn RJ, Kadakia J, et al. Assessment of Employee susceptibility to phishing attacks at US Health Care Institutions. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(3):e190393.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.0393
pubmed: 30848810
pmcid: 6484661
Monte AA, Shelton SK, Mills E, Saben J, Hopkinson A, Sonn B, et al. Acute Illness Associated with Cannabis Use, by Route of exposure: an observational study. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(8):531–7.
doi: 10.7326/M18-2809
pubmed: 30909297
pmcid: 6788289
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Is marijuana addictive? 2020. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive Accessed 27 July 2023.
Rogeberg O, Elvik R. The effects of cannabis intoxication on motor vehicle collision revisited and revised. Addiction. 2016;111(8):1348–59.
doi: 10.1111/add.13347
pubmed: 26878835
Preuss UW, Huestis MA, Schneider M, Hermann D, Lutz B, Hasan A, et al. Cannabis Use and Car Crashes: a review. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:643315.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643315
pubmed: 34122176
pmcid: 8195290
Bray JW, Zarkin GA, Ringwalt C, Qi J. The relationship between marijuana initiation and dropping out of high school. Health Econ. 2000;9(1):9–18.
doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1050(200001)9:1<9::AID-HEC471>3.0.CO;2-Z
pubmed: 10694756
Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area P. The legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: the impact: volume 8, September 2021. Mo Med. 2021;118(6):534–5.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Is marijuana a gateway drug? National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2020. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-drug Accessed 27 July 2023.
Editorial. A realtor who grew marijuana for personnel use got probation. United Daily News. 2022. https://today.line.me/tw/v2/article/yz7xonG Accessed 27 July 2023.
Ministry of Justice. Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act 2022. https://www.fda.gov.tw/tc/includes/GetFile.ashx?id=f 637580670512541249&type=3&iid=11236 Accessed 27 July 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What You Need To Know About Marijuana Use and Teens. 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/teens.html Accessed 27 July 2023.