Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Adults' Attitudes Shifting Toward Marijuana, Analysis Shows
Marijuana use is聽losing some of its taboo among US adults, according to a new analysis聽of government survey data. In a report published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry Thursday, federal researchers conclude that pot use began increasing in about 2007, coinciding with a drop in the number of Americans who see the drug as harmful. (Samuel, 8/31)
An increasing number of U.S. adults are using marijuana, and attitudes about the drug are shifting聽鈥撀爁ewer people perceive pot as harmful, according to a new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Though the study cannot answer the question of why more Americans are聽using聽marijuana, the researchers say聽the data is consistent with other, similar research. The trend聽comes as a growing聽number of states are聽changing laws to聽legalize聽medical, and to a lesser extent, recreational marijuana, which聽may be playing a role in public perception of the drug. (Welch, 8/31)