A new federally funded review of state regulations suggests that agencies overseeing legal cannabis are placing far greater emphasis on public health than the bodies responsible for alcohol oversight. The findings are based on an analysis of annual reports issued by regulatory agencies in all 24 states that permit recreational cannabis.
Researchers examined how each agency framed its mission, how often it reported working with health departments, and what types of public safety initiatives it highlighted. Roughly 68% of agencies that manage cannabis markets referenced public health priorities in their guiding statements, while only 35% of alcohol regulators did the same.
The findings challenge the familiar campaign message that cannabis should be regulated like alcohol. According to the study, in many cases, cannabis is subject to stronger oversight when it comes to health protections.
The study also found that the path a state took to legalize cannabis appears to influence how regulators approach their work. States where lawmakers approved legalization tended to produce agencies that reported more health-focused indicators, both for alcohol and cannabis, when compared with states that relied on ballot initiatives.
According to the study, legislative legalization has become more common in recent years, and these newer programs often document a broader set of public health concerns linked to cannabis use.
Across all states reviewed, marijuana agencies consistently cited public health goals more often than their alcohol counterparts. Alcohol regulators were more likely to highlight law enforcement activities, such as compliance checks or investigations, while cannabis agencies more frequently reported efforts tied to education, harm reduction, or collaboration with medical experts.
The authors stressed that the findings raise significant questions about the actual impact of regulatory decisions in the real world. They noted that additional work is needed to determine whether the public health strategies described in agency reports lead to measurable improvements for people who use cannabis or for communities affected by the industry’s growth.
The findings come as Congress is weighing how the federal government should prepare for a future in which marijuana is fully legal nationwide. A bipartisan group in the House has already introduced legislation that would require the attorney general to assemble a commission tasked with outlining a regulatory structure for marijuana modeled on the long-established approach used for alcohol.
At the same time, alcohol industry groups have pushed Congress to crack down on THC-infused hemp products and to create a regulatory framework for the sector.
As the regulatory landscape for marijuana evolves at the federal level, entities like TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) will be closely watching and hoping that the regulatory headwinds they face ease over time.
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