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B.C. study to look at how people use marijuana ahead of legalization

The B.C. Centre on Substance Use needs 1,000 volunteers who use the drug for its latest project.
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A new study by the B.C. Centre on Substance Use aims to find out how and why people use marijuana, ahead of the federal government’s move to legalize the drug.

It’s the first study in Canada to look at the “full spectrum” of marijuana use, including medical and recreational users, said Dr. M-J Milloy, a research scientist at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

“Our study aims to generate detailed evidence on cannabis use, harms and possible benefits to help inform the creation of the new public health framework and provide baseline data for monitoring the impacts of legalization,” he said in a news release on Friday.

The team is looking to recruit more than 1,000 volunteers who buy marijuana from dispensaries in Vancouver.

They can anonymously fill out an online survey detailing their behaviours, beliefs, reasons for use, perceived benefits and experience of harms, such as intoxicated driving.

Past studies have looked at how many Canadians use pot, the news release said, but other statistics, such as the rates of dependence or risk factors, have not been as well researched.



About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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