The landscape of marijuana use in the United States has undergone a significant transformation over the past several decades. This shift is cultural, affecting how the substance is perceived by the public, with increasing numbers of states legalising both medical and recreational marijuana. A recent study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry sheds light on this evolving perspective, revealing a marked change in the American public’s perception of marijuana’s potential harm—a change that underscores the need for ongoing education and a nuanced understanding of cannabis use and its effects.

The Changing Tide of Public Perception

The study, analysing 12 years of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002 to 2014), found a significant decrease in the percentage of American adults who perceive smoking marijuana once or twice a week as a great risk, dropping from 50.4% to 33.3%. Concurrently, the proportion of adults who view such use as posing absolutely no risk increased nearly threefold, from 5.6% to 15.1%. This shift reflects a broader change in societal attitudes towards marijuana, moving away from stringent prohibition towards more accepting, if not outright supportive, views of cannabis use.

This change in perception began around 2006 to 2007, coinciding with legislative movements across various states either to legalise or decriminalise marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. The study’s lead, Roger A. Roffman, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington, School of Social Work, attributes this shift to increased personal experimentation among the public and growing scepticism of the necessity for harsh criminal penalties for possession and use. Notably, this period also saw escalated efforts to challenge the criminalisation of marijuana, advocating instead for regulated legalisation.

Discrepancies Between Public Perception and Medical Opinion

While public sentiment appears to be increasingly in favour of minimising the perceived harms of marijuana, this does not always align with medical opinion. Dr. Patrick Fehling, an addiction psychiatrist at the University of Colorado Hospital Center for Dependency Addiction and Rehabilitation, points out that marijuana became legalised before a comprehensive understanding of its effects was established. Ongoing research into marijuana use, spurred in part by legalisation and the associated tax revenues, is beginning to indicate potential for harm, particularly distinguishing between recreational use and use characterised by addiction, which involves tolerance, withdrawal, and significant impact on personal life.

The study’s findings underscore the necessity for continued research into the effects of marijuana, highlighting the gap between anecdotal evidence and scientifically verified data. It also raises questions about the role of advertising and political campaigns in shaping public perception, suggesting that messages emphasising marijuana’s relative harmlessness compared to substances like alcohol may contribute to misconceptions about its safety.

The Need for Educated Dialogue

The evolving legal status and public perception of marijuana present a complex challenge, suggesting a critical need for informed dialogue that bridges the gap between public beliefs and scientific evidence. Education plays a pivotal role in this dialogue, ensuring that discussions about marijuana use and policy are grounded in accurate, comprehensive information. As research expands, it will be crucial to communicate findings effectively to the public, helping to foster a balanced understanding of marijuana’s potential risks and benefits.

Furthermore, the transition towards legalisation imposes a responsibility on policymakers, healthcare professionals, and educators to develop strategies that mitigate potential harms associated with marijuana use. This includes addressing issues of addiction, mental health implications, and the impact of marijuana use on younger populations, whose perceptions of risk may be significantly influenced by prevailing societal attitudes.

Source: ABC News – Marijuana Harm Study Finds