A new study suggests higher densities of medical marijuana shops in California are associated with more pot-related hospitalizations.
Researchers, led by University of Pittsburgh associated professor Christina Mair, examined the number of hospitalizations for marijuana abuse by California ZIP code. They also tabulated the quantity of dispensaries per square mile by ZIP code.
Each additional pot store was associated with a 6.8 percent increase in the number of pot-related hospitalizations.
Joe Eberstein, program manager of the San Diego County Marijuana Prevention Initiative, said previous studies have shown adverse impacts associated with higher densities of alcohol outlets.
“I don’t see why it would be an overreach to think that an over-density or an overpopulation of marijuana dispensaries would have the same kinds of impacts," he said.
Eberstein, who was not involved with the study, said medical marijuana dispensaries sell products that are very potent.
"Your average high-quality joint in the '80s was about one to three percent THC," he said. "Some of these oils and waxes contain anywhere from 30 to 90 percent THC now.”
The study does not say that a higher density of pot shops causes more hospitalizations. It just suggests that there’s a link between the two.
The study is published in the September 1 issue of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
