The rapid expansion of recreational cannabis access in the United States has dramatically increased legal recreational cannabis consumption. However, increased legal recreational consumption likely coincides with a decrease in black market and legal medical cannabis; hence, it’s theoretically ambiguous how much overall cannabis consumption has changed instates that have legalized recreational cannabis. We generate a new annual proxy for the proportion of adults consuming cannabis using blood and urine tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)test results from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data for the period 2010 - 2021.THC tests from traffic fatality records are possible to use as a broader measure of THC consumption because THC remains in the bloodstream after impairment from cannabis consumption has dissipated for regular cannabis users. We select states that frequently test drivers in fatal crashes and reliably test for THC. We explore how our measure varies by demographics and engagement in risky behaviors (e.g. testing positive for alcohol or hard drugs). We benchmark our measure against existing usage measures, such as the BehavioralRisk Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS). These existing measures are self-reported which may limit their ability to fully capture overall usage and precise responses to cannabis law changes. We can then use our new proxy for cannabis consumption to study how consumption changes when recreational cannabis is legalized.

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Principal Investigator

CAROLINE WEBER, PhD

Associate Professor
Martin School for Public Policy and Administration
University of Kentucky

This study examines the effects of cannabis laws (medical and recreational) on co-prescriptions of opioid and benzodiazepine (i.e., at least one day of overlap between an opioid and a benzodiazepine prescription) and diagnoses of opioid use disorder (OUD), benzodiazepine use disorder (BUD), and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among older adults (≥65). The study utilizes patient-level Medicare claims data (i.e., The Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) and Prescription Drug Event (PDE) files for 2012-2016) and state-level socio-economic and policy variables to achieve these aims.

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Principal Investigator

JAYANI JAYAWARDHANA, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Health Management and Policy
College of Public Health
University of Kentucky

Co-Investigators

DANIELA MOGA, PHD

PATRICIA FREEMAN ,PHD

The Perinatal Research and Wellness Team will examine perinatal cannabis use patterns (dose, frequency, and route of administration) and dependency in Kentucky by analyzing UKHC de-identified patient data over a five-year period. We will also enroll patients at UKHC clinics and invite them to complete an online survey and participate in a virtual focus group to explore perceptions, motivations, and hesitations for perinatal cannabis use in Kentucky.

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Principal Investigator

KRISTIN ASHFORD, PHD, WHNP-BC, FAAN

Professor
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Faculty
and Interprofessional Education Affairs
College of Nursing
University of Kentucky

This study will examine cannabis use among Kentuckians who are being treated for cancer, or who were recently treated for cancer. These patients and survivors will answer a survey to determine how often they are using cannabis, which types of products they are using, and where they obtain it, including both during and after treatment. Up to 500 participants will be selected from the approximately 55,000 Kentuckians diagnosed with cancer over the past two years.

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Principal Investigator

W. JAY CHRISTIAN, PHD, MPH

Associate Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health
College of Public Health
University of Kentucky

Co-Investigators

JESSICA BURRIS, PHD

ARADHANA KAUSHAL, MD

SHYANIKA ROSE, PHD