2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

330460
Comprehensive Literature Review on Marijuana Use and Health Effects


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Elizabeth Barker, MPH, CCRC, Environmental Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Toxicology, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO
Mike Van Dyke, PhD, CIH, Environmental Epidemiology, Occupational Health, and Toxicology Branch, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO
Daniel Vigil, MD, Environmental Epidemiology, Occupational Health, and Toxicology Branch, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO
Andrew Monte, MD, Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Aurora, CO
Elyse Contreras, BA, Environmental Epidemiology, Occupational Health, and Toxicology Branch, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO
Background: In response to the legalization of retail marijuana by the voters of Colorado, lawmakers required the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to empanel a Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee.  The committee was required to submit a comprehensive report on the literature review findings to the General Assembly and the Boards of Health and Revenue.  The Committee was required by statute to:
  • Review  and judge the scientific literature available on health effects of marijuana use
  • Come to consensus on population health effects of marijuana use and  translate the science into public health messages.
  • Recommend public health related policies.
  • Identify and prioritize gaps in science important to public health.
  • Recommend public health surveillance activities.

Methods: The committee established a series of topics on potential health effects of marijuana use, and public health priorities identified. Outside technical experts were recruited to search the scientific literature and summarize and present findings to the full committee.  A systematic search of peer-reviewed publications was conducted using MEDLINE.  Publications were reviewed and the strength of the evidence was graded, based on the weight of evidence. Evidence statements were agreed upon by consensus and  translated into public health statements for public health education. 

Results: The committee identified several significant public health findings, including risks to adolescents who use marijuana and increased risk of a motor vehicle crash when operators use both alcohol and marijuana.  The evidence statements provide the scientific foundation for Colorado’s continued efforts to collect data about both populations at risk, using survey data and also data on adverse health effects and to use this data to inform education and prevention strategies.

Conclusion:  Colorado’s citizens benefit from the proactive, systematic, collaborative processes in place to monitor marijuana use following legalization  and potential health effects related to use.

Learning Areas:

Clinical medicine applied in public health
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the process used in Colorado to create a evidence based framework for monitoring marijuana use and possible health effects related to marijuana use.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was responsible for the management of the Colorado Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee meetings including participation in topic generation, technical expert engagement and management, and co-authorship of the final report entitled “Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2014. This report details the prevalence rates and adverse health events related to marijuana use in Colorado reported to the General Assembly, Board of Health, and Board of Revenue January 30, 2015.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4175.0: Marijuana use by youth and young adults