Nadareishvili Ilia, Rao Sowmya R, Otiashvili David, Gnatienko Natalia, Samet Jeffrey H, Lunze Karsten, Kirtadze Irma
David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Addiction. 2025 Feb;120(2):335-346. doi: 10.1111/add.16688. Epub 2024 Oct 17.
In 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.
We 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.
Among 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).
There 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.
2018年，格鲁吉亚将大麻用于娱乐用途合法化，并将有限持有大麻非罪化。本研究旨在评估格鲁吉亚国家政策变化后，18至29岁的年轻人中使用大麻的情况是否增加，并评估合法化后获取大麻是否变得更容易，以及年轻人使用大麻的当前风险因素。
我们使用了2015年（n = 1308）和2022年（n = 758）在格鲁吉亚进行的具有全国代表性的调查数据，分别在非罪化之前和之后。我们进行了适当的双变量分析以及多变量线性和逻辑回归，以评估以下内容：合法化对大麻使用的影响；获取大麻的感知难度；首次使用的年龄；女性和男性在使用上的差异；以及与当前使用相关的因素。
在年轻人中，2015年（17.3%）和2022年（18.1%）大麻使用的终生患病率相似[优势比（95%置信区间）= 1.1 [0.7, 1.6]，P = 0.726]。年患病率（2015年为7%，2022年为7.7%）也相似（1.1 [0.7, 2.0]，P = 0.650）。2022年获取大麻比2015年更不难（0.5 [0.4, 0.8]，P = 0.021）。首次使用的年龄在统计学上显著增加（2015年为18.1岁，2022年为19.1岁，P = 0.003）。2022年，女性的年使用率较低（1.9%对13.1%；优势比 = 0.1 [0.0, 0.3]，P < 0.0001），而赌博者的年使用率较高（11.7%对4.4%；优势比 = 3.2 [1.5, 6.8]，P < 0.003）。男性开始使用大麻的年龄更早（19.1岁对女性的20.6岁，P = 0.03），并且比女性更容易获取大麻（P < 0.0001）。
格鲁吉亚实施娱乐性大麻使用合法化后，年轻人中使用大麻的情况变化极小。男性和赌博者使用大麻的风险更高。
