Last year, more middle-aged adults were binge drinking, using marijuana or consuming hallucinogens than ever before, according to a new report. Cannabis use surged among young adults under 30, alongside historic rates of vaping, as well.

  • SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    Is anyone really surprised cannabis use surged? Like with legalization you would think it would have that cause and effect.

    Im glad psychedelic use surged. Makes you see reality differently and can be amazing for mental health issues which needs to be utilized. Fuck the war on drugs

    Alcohol can go away though but it’s hard when there is quite literally no future to be seen

    • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      If I recall the research, increases are pretty slight from legalization.

      COVID and the largest disruption to social and economic conditions in human history is the alpha and omega for pretty much anything that significantly changed in the last three years.

      • JoYo@lemmy.ml
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        2 years ago

        it’s kinda hard to give a fuck about public health regarding cannabis when watching the complete apathy for COVID precautions.

        oh, cannabis makes some people think slower? you sure that wasn’t brain damage from a deadly virus?

      • SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        I’d be curious on this research. I could be completely wrong but I feel like with legalization and having the conveniency of dispensaries it would mean more frequent use and even new use. Do you know if this research was for why they used and not if they would of used it wasn’t legal and didn’t have dispensaries?

        • I’m finding conflicting research now that I’m looking again. In Colorado for example use definitely went up after legalization but not by a significant amount more than it was already going up, year over year. Youth usage went down.

        • iHUNTcriminals@lemm.ee
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          2 years ago

          Maybe for new people that didn’t use it because it was illegal.

          Before it was legal I would buy as much as I could because I hated meeting dealers. Now that I can go to a shop I don’t really mind going a few days without.

          I tend to smoke more when I have a lot vs just having an eighth from the dispo that I’ll just stretch because I know I can just go get more any time with ease.

          Also ime with new users where I live. People love the 5mg gummies. That’s not what we used to do with edibles before legalization. I don’t think a lot of new users are getting baked like snoop, unless maybe they are a part of party culture.

          Also it seems younger people consider always-stoned-stoners junkies. It’s not a cool look anymore it’s just pretty pathetic and sad.

          • aceshigh@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            Ditto. The first 3 paragraphs. Ditto. I smoke less because I can pick up whenever. I ran out 2 weeks ago and will pick up next time I’m in the city and in the area. I could go to the city now but I’m too lazy.

      • SCB@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        Alcohol will remain my favorite drug until they come out with drugs that are more fun than alcohol.

        I’ve done just about everything but heroin, and whole heroin does seem really fun, the externalities are too big to ignore.

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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      2 years ago

      Several cities (including my own) and Oregon have decriminalized hallucinogenic mushrooms so it is not a huge surprise that rates increased.