Research & Resources

Researchers investigated whether recreational marijuana legalization (RML) in Oregon in 2015 and recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlet density levels were associated with increased alcohol and marijuana co-use by adolescents. Findings indicated a significant post-RML increase in past 30-day alcohol and marijuana co-use in areas with the highest density of recreational marijuana and alcohol retail outlets. Findings also showed RML and greater retail availability of recreational marijuana was positively associated with increased beliefs favorable to alcohol and marijuana use by adolescents.

This paper, “Retail Availability of Recreational Marijuana and Alcohol in Oregon Counties and Co-Use of Alcohol and Marijuana and Related Beliefs among Adolescents,” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It was published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse.