A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine called for urgent federal action on U.S. cannabis policy, warning that state-level legalization efforts prioritize commercial interests over public health.

The government-sponsored study found that cannabis use has increased in many populations, a result of public perception of risk declining and availability surging. In 2022, more people reported daily or near-daily cannabis use than daily alcohol use.

In addition, the THC concentration in products, which researchers identified as one of the greatest public health issues related to cannabis, has markedly increased as well. And this is where policy often falls short.

“Cannabis policy often focuses on regulating sales and revenue first, and protecting public health second,” said Steven Teutsch, chair of the committee behind the report and senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics.

Setting standards

The vast majority of U.S. states have legalized cannabis for adult or medical use, and because of the continued federal illegality and lack of interstate commerce options, the industry has evolved under a patchwork of regulations