Tianjing Li is with the Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora. George Sam Wang is with the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Lisa Bero is with the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Ashley Brooks-Russell is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health. Gregory Tung is with the Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health. Jonathan M. Samet is with the Departments of Epidemiology and of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health.
Am J Public Health. 2024 Nov;114(S8):S639-S644. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2024.307724.
For public health protection, informed decision-making relies on having a robust foundation of evidence concerning risks and their prevention. Application of an evidence-based framework depends on the availability of pertinent, scientifically sound data generated by well-directed and valid research endeavors. In this essay, we address the current state of research in humans and the evidential base concerning high-concentration delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) products, which are readily available in the United States. Furthermore, we explore the intricate challenges faced in carrying out research on these products, which reflect the full range of study design issues: measurement of exposure and outcomes, confounding, selection bias, and the generalizability of findings. We offer recommendations to guide future research toward providing more informative evidence. By following these recommendations, researchers and funders on this emerging topic could move toward generating the valid and comprehensive evidence needed to effectively inform public health initiatives and guide policy decisions regarding high-concentration delta-9-THC products and their use. The urgency of generating such evidence cannot be overstated, given the widespread legalization and increasing availability and use of these products. (. 2024;114(S8):S639-S644. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307724).
为了保护公众健康，明智的决策依赖于对风险及其预防有坚实的证据基础。循证框架的应用取决于通过精心设计和有效的研究努力产生的相关、科学合理的数据。在本文中，我们探讨了人类研究的现状和高浓度 δ-9-四氢大麻酚（δ-9-THC）产品的证据基础，这些产品在美国很容易获得。此外，我们还探讨了在这些产品上进行研究所面临的复杂挑战，这些挑战反映了研究设计问题的各个方面：暴露和结果的测量、混杂、选择偏差以及发现的普遍性。我们提供了一些建议，以指导未来的研究提供更具信息量的证据。通过遵循这些建议，该新兴主题的研究人员和资助者可以朝着生成有效告知公共卫生计划和指导关于高浓度 δ-9-THC 产品及其使用的政策决策所需的有效和全面的证据迈进。鉴于这些产品的广泛合法化以及日益普及和使用，生成此类证据的紧迫性怎么强调都不为过。（2024；114(S8):S639-S644. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307724）。
