NYC Gazette

A recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University highlights concerns about the accessibility of cannabis to youths in New York City through unlicensed dispensaries. Despite regulations prohibiting the sale of recreational cannabis to individuals under 21, these outlets often fail to verify age, potentially increasing access for minors.

Ryan Sultán, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and senior author of the study, emphasizes the risks associated with early cannabis use. "Regulation to restrict access in this age group is based on evidence that cannabis affects working memory, brain development, and increases addiction risk when used at an early age," he explains. Sultán also notes that high-potency cannabis can have adverse effects on adolescents' physical and mental health.

The legalization of recreational marijuana in New York State began in 2021 following a medical marijuana program initiated in 2014. By late 2022, licensed recreational outlets were operational. However, according to Sultán, "Overnight, the city went from having a few medical marijuana dispensaries to having a bunch of dispensaries that may or may not have been licensed."

To investigate further, researchers mapped out 840 cannabis outlets across New York City's five boroughs using Google Maps. Among these locations were both licensed and unlicensed dispensaries as well as smoke shops. A research assistant aged 22 visited a random selection of these stores posing as an underage consumer.

The findings revealed significant differences between licensed and unlicensed retailers. While all licensed dispensaries required photo ID verification before entry, only 10% of unlicensed shops did so. Timothy Becker, a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia's Department of Psychiatry and co-author of the study, points out that many unlicensed outlets also sold other products appealing to youth such as nicotine products and energy drinks.

Licensed retailers generally adhered more closely to state regulations requiring certificates of analysis detailing product potency and quality—these were more frequently displayed than at unlicensed locations.

Sultán concludes that while the findings might not apply universally outside New York City, they underscore challenges faced by regulators: "Though our findings may not be generalizable to other cities," he says, "they show that legalization of recreational cannabis creates a space for young people to purchase cannabis."

The study was published online on February 24th in Pediatrics with contributions from authors including Timothy Becker, Mark Olfson, Peter Menzi among others from Columbia University.