Cannabis is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the United States after alcohol and tobacco, with 49.6 million Americans reporting past-year use. In 2016, California legalized non-medicinal adult use, joining the national wave of states that are decriminalizing and legalizing cannabis. Cannabis has shown promise as an effective tool in the management of some health conditions, but it also brings health risks, particularly related to mental health and the development of substance use disorders.
Investigators from UCLA-ISAP collaborate with researchers from UCLA’s Cannabis Research Initiative, and are leading several projects related to cannabis policy and cannabis use disorder treatment with support from the National Institutes of Health and the California Department of Cannabis Control. Results and recommendations emerging from this research are documented in several reports and publications.
For further information about UCLA-ISAP’s research on cannabis policy and cannabis use disorders, please contact Howard Padwa, Ph.D. at hpadwa@mednet.ucla.edu.