Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39417804›Full record

ArticleAddiction (Abingdon, England)2025

Post-legalization shifts in cannabis use among young adults in Georgia-A nationally representative study.

Ilia Nadareishvili, Sowmya R Rao, David Otiashvili, Natalia Gnatienko, Jeffrey H Samet, Karsten Lunze, Irma Kirtadze

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ilia NadareishviliDavid Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia.ORCID 0000-0001-8749-125X
Sowmya R RaoBoston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
David OtiashviliAddiction Research Center Alternative Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Natalia GnatienkoSection of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0019-762X
Jeffrey H SametBoston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Karsten LunzeBoston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Irma KirtadzeAddiction Research Center Alternative Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Funding

Czech Development Agency (CzDA) CzDA-GR-GE-2014-43081European Monitoring Center for Drug and Drug Addiction CT.21.EMCDDA4GE.0112.1.0NIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse 2023 and 2024 INVEST (International Visiting Scientists and Technical Exchange Program, Drug Use and Addiction Research) FellowshipUnited States Agency for International Development AID-114-A-00007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimIn 2018, the country of Georgia legalized cannabis for recreational use and decriminalized limited possession. This study aimed to assess whether cannabis use increased among young adults (ages 18-29 years) in Georgia after national policy changes and to evaluate whether perceived access became easier after legalization and current risk factors of young adult cannabis use.

methodsWe used data from the Georgian nationally representative survey administered in 2015 (n = 1308) and 2022 (n = 758), before and after decriminalization. We performed appropriate bivariate analyses and multivariable linear and logistic regressions to assess the following: legalization's impact on cannabis use; perceived difficulty to obtain cannabis; age of first use; differences in use between females and males; and factors associated with current use.

findingsAmong young adults lifetime prevalence of cannabis use was similar in 2015 (17.3%) and 2022 (18.1%) [Odds Ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.1 [0.7, 1.6], P = 0.726). Annual prevalence (7% in 2015 vs 7.7% in 2022) was also similar (1.1 [0.7, 2.0], P = 0.650). In 2022 it was less difficult to obtain cannabis than in 2015 (0.5 [0.4, 0.8], P = 0.021). The age of first use increased statistically significantly (18.1 years in 2015 vs 19.1 in 2022, P = 0.003). In 2022, annual prevalence of use was lower among females (1.9% vs 13.1%; OR = 0.1 [0.0, 0.3], P < 0.0001) and higher among those who gambled (11.7% vs 4.4%; OR = 3.2 [1.5, 6.8], P < 0.003). Males initiated cannabis use at an earlier age (19.1 years vs 20.6 for females, P = 0.03), and could obtain cannabis easier than females (P < 0.0001).

conclusionThere was a minimal shift of cannabis use in young adults following implementation of recreational cannabis use legalization in Georgia. Males and people who gambled were at higher risk of cannabis use.

Indexed as

Marijuana UseAdolescentAdultFemaleGeorgia (Republic)HumansLegislation, DrugMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsYoung AdultcannabisdecriminalizationGeorgialegalizationpolicyprevalenceyoung adultsyouth

Identifiers

PMID39417804
PMCPMC11707321

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.