{"id":40869,"date":"2026-01-21T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=40869"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:01:23","slug":"answering-questions-about-legal-weed-what-are-the-publics-biggest-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/answering-questions-about-legal-weed-what-are-the-publics-biggest-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Answering Questions About Legal Weed: What Are The Public&#8217;s Biggest Concerns?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not everyone supports cannabis legalization efforts, even with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cannabis\/about\/state-medical-cannabis-laws.html#:~:text=47%20states%2C%20the%20District%20of%20Columbia%2C%20and%203%20territories%20(Guam%2C%20Puerto%20Rico%2C%20U.S.%20Virgin%20Islands)%20allow%20for%20the%20use%20of%20cannabis%20for%20medical%20purposes.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nearly all 50 states<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> providing at least some form of medical cannabis access. However, according to the Pew Research Center, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/07\/08\/facts-about-marijuana\/#:~:text=The%20vast%20majority%20of%20Americans%20support%20legalizing%20marijuana%20in%20some%20way%2C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">majority of Americans support at least some form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of cannabis legalization. Only 12% of respondents in their 2025 survey said that cannabis shouldn\u2019t be legal in any form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who support legal cannabis, it\u2019s important to understand the reasons behind others&#8217; opposition. This can better inform the way we advocate for the plant\u2019s legalization. So, let\u2019s dive a little deeper. What are the public\u2019s biggest concerns about legal weed?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Will Cannabis Lead to Other Drug Use?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the aforementioned Pew Research Center survey, 27% of respondents believe that recreational cannabis decreases the use of other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/07\/08\/facts-about-marijuana\/#:~:text=27%25%20say%20legalizing%20recreational%20marijuana%20decreases%20the%20use%20of%20other%20drugs%20like%20heroin%2C%20fentanyl%20and%20cocaine%2C%20while%2029%25%20say%20it%20increases%20use.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">29% claim it increases use.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This belief tracks with what we hear from opponents across the country. It\u2019s why we heard Marty Makary, the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5010595-progressive-lawmakers-marijuana-biden\/#:~:text=But%20Marty%20Makary%2C%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20nominee%20to%20lead%20the%20Food%20and%20Drug%20Administration%2C%20has%20previously%20called%20the%20substance%20%E2%80%9Ca%20gateway%20drug.%E2%80%9D%20He%20has%20implied%20marijuana%20may%20lead%20to%20cognitive%20decline.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">call cannabis a \u201cgateway drug<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d We could spend all day rounding up examples of conservative lobbyists and other groups <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kbtx.com\/2021\/11\/16\/gop-rep-maces-bill-would-federally-decriminalize-marijuana\/#:~:text=Calling%20marijuana%20%E2%80%9Cthe,crisis%20exponentially%20worse.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">calling cannabis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a \u201cgateway drug to the exploding opioid crisis\u201d and other sentiments, but we\u2019ll spare our readers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Truth is, there\u2019s limited evidence to fully refute or prove the idea that cannabis is a gateway drug. Researchers often disagree, partly because they collect and interpret data in different ways. We\u2019ve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/is-marijuana-a-gateway-drug\/#:~:text=SOME%20SAY%20YES-,As,.,-RAND%20explains\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">previously reported <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that RAND explains three reasons why some researchers support the notion of cannabis as a gateway drug:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cannabis users are more likely than non-users to eventually use other hard drugs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly everyone who has used cannabis and other hard drugs originally started with cannabis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The heavier the cannabis use, the more likely someone is to use hard drugs later<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-40870 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-1-300x200.png\" alt=\"hard drugs\" width=\"926\" height=\"617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But other research <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/is-marijuana-a-gateway-drug\/#:~:text=Other%20evidence%2C%20however%2C%20points%20to%20the%20opposite%20conclusion.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suggests the opposite<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, concluding that most cannabis users do not go on to use other substances later in life. A <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Bureau of Economic Research<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> study from 2021 also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w29038#:~:text=There%20is%20little%20evidence%20to%20suggest%20that%20RML%2Dinduced%20increases%20in%20marijuana%20consumption%20encourage%20the%20use%20of%20harder%20substances%20or%20violent%20criminal%20activity%2C%20and%20some%20evidence%20that%20RMLs%20may%20aid%20in%20reducing%20opioid%2Drelated%20mortality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">finds little evidence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to back up the idea that recreational cannabis laws encourage the use of harder substances. In fact, the study concluded that recreational cannabis laws may help to reduce opioid-related deaths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This conclusion aligns with other research we\u2019ve seen, including one study that found cannabis significantly reduces the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33367882\/#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20This,overall%20public%20health.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">use of prescription opioids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> among authorized patients. This also tracks with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11469-023-01191-y#:~:text=The%20impact%20of,opioid%2Drelated%20harms.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which finds that non-prescription opioid use tends to decrease when the population has access to medical cannabis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there may be conflicting evidence about the role of cannabis as a gateway drug, we do know that there is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/27766\/chapter\/8#231:~:text=Findings%20of%20systematic,for%20an%20association.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no concrete evidence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pointing to the assertion commonly used in anti-cannabis rhetoric.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Will Cannabis Negatively Impact People\u2019s Health?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another common reason people oppose cannabis laws is the potential health concerns they may bring. These concerns tend to focus on addiction, adolescent brain development, hospitalizations, ER visits, and associated physical and mental health problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s start with addiction. The truth is, people <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/is-weed-addictive\/#:~:text=A%20lot%20of%20research%20has%20concluded%20that%20about%209%20to%2010%20out%20of%20every%20100%20people%20who%20use%20marijuana%20will%20develop%20some%20form%20of%20marijuana%20use%20disorder.%20Further%20studies%20show%20that%20people%20who%20started%20using%20marijuana%20in%20their%20teenage%20years%20have%20an%20increased%20risk%20of%20up%20to%20about%2017%25\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can become addicted to cannabis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Like most things cannabis-related, we need more definitive studies to get a clearer picture. But we do know that the age of first use, frequency of use, socioeconomic context, and existing mental health issues may all factor in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early research suggests that somewhere around 9 to 10 out of every 100 cannabis users may end up with a cannabis use disorder, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/healing-from-addiction\/202305\/the-prevalence-of-cannabis-use-disorder-among-cannabis-users#:~:text=Bottom%20line%3A%20People%20who%20use%20cannabis%20have%20a%201%20in%205%20risk%20of%20CUD%20(either%20abuse%20or%20dependence)%20and%20a%201%20in%208%20risk%20of%20cannabis%20dependence.%20The%20risk%20of%20developing%20dependence%20increases%20to%201%20in%203%20among%20people%20who%20use%20cannabis%20weekly%20or%20more%20often.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">new data suggests even higher<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (up to 1 in 3). Those who start using the plant in their teenage years may have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2219953\/#:~:text=At%20age%2012%20the%20rate%20of%20CUD%20was%206.1%25%3B%20the%20rate%20increased%20quite%20dramatically%20to%2017.4%25%20at%20age%2013%2C%20and%20it%20stayed%20relatively%20high%20until%20age%2018%20(12.8%25).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">up to a 17% risk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of developing cannabis use disorder, but that\u2019s according to 2008 data. Regardless, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/27766\/chapter\/8#230:~:text=Adolescent%20use%20(ages,and%20adolescent%20use.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 review<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the National Academies of Science and Engineering (NASEM) finds overall, there is insufficient data that adolescent use changes with enacting cannabis policy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While studies greatly vary \u2013 and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cannabis\/data-research\/facts-stats\/index.html#:~:text=Recent%20research%20estimated,age%2018.3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC has different statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for these \u2013 we see this as an opportunity to better educate the public about the risks of cannabis use to ensure that adults are empowered and able to make responsible decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns about adolescent brain development are valid, too. Developing brains may be more susceptible to harm, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/study-shows-why-teens-shouldnt-use-cannabis-recreationally\/#:~:text=PERHAPS%20HIGH%20THC,avoid%20recreational%20use.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cannabis may provide further problems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We still need more research to better understand the harms, but we do know that high-potency THC products may play a role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CDC continues to echo the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cannabis\/health-effects\/cannabis-and-teens.html#:~:text=Cannabis%20and%20the,college%20degree.2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25-year-old brain age benchmark<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for cannabis safety, while the most recent 2025 research claims to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/41208087\/#:~:text=Nonetheless%2C%20there%20is,and%20historical%20considerations.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">debunk this as a myth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. While these concerns are valid, it\u2019s important to note that recreational cannabis laws do not allow teenagers to possess or purchase cannabis. Also, minor cannabinoids like CBD and CBG may still be of benefit to them without concerning intoxicating effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As far as concerns around mental health, we know that some states recommend <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/which-states-offer-medical-cannabis-for-mental-health-conditions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medical cannabis for psychiatric conditions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like anxiety and others. While the plant may help with some conditions, it also could exacerbate others. The same can be said for alcohol and other legal substances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Likewise, when it comes to physical health problems, educated adults can choose to use cannabis if they\u2019ve decided the benefits outweigh the risks. Overall, an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/27766\/chapter\/8#232:~:text=Health%20Care%E2%80%93Related,the%20committee%20determined\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">updated 2024 review<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by NASEM notes \u201climited or suggestive evidence\u201d that cannabis increases related hospital visits, but insufficient evidence of an association between policy and mental health outcomes at large.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Will Crime Increase?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another commonly cited concern about legal cannabis is increased crime rates. A recent example from earlier this year comes from Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiocapitaljournal.com\/2025\/03\/10\/fact-check-ohio-gop-claims-legalizing-marijuana-increases-crime-it-doesnt-legal-expert-says\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThose%20local%20governments%2C%20by%20and%20large%2C%20are%20going%20to%20use%20the%20revenue%20to%20deal%20with%20the%20problems%20that%20are%20caused%20by%20more%20marijuana%20being%20available%20in%20the%20community%20%E2%80%94%20we%E2%80%99re%20going%20to%20have%20more%20crime%3B%20we%E2%80%99re%20going%20to%20have%20more%20addiction%20problems%2C%E2%80%9D%20Huffman%20said.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, \u201cThose local governments, by and large, are going to use the revenue to deal with the problems that are caused by more marijuana being available in the community \u2014 we\u2019re going to have more crime; we\u2019re going to have more addiction problems.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-40871 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-3-300x200.png\" alt=\"A police line at a crime scene\" width=\"856\" height=\"570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-3-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-3-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-3-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/publics-biggest-questions-about-legal-weed-3.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 856px) 100vw, 856px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We see sentiments like Huffman\u2019s often when opponents debate the risks of legalizing cannabis. But the fear around increased crime has been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/27766\/chapter\/7#205:~:text=Evidence%20on%20cannabis%20policies%20contributing,Unger%20et%20al.%2C%202020).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">debunked again and again<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one early example, researchers looked at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iza.org\/publications\/dp\/11567\/high-on-crime-exploring-the-effects-of-marijuana-dispensary-laws-on-crime-in-california-counties#:~:text=Regulated%20marijuana%20markets,event%20study%20analysis.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dispensaries in California counties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see if their presence increased crime rates. They found no link between violent crimes and dispensaries in 2018. Additionally, they observed that property crimes declined in areas with dispensaries, likely because dispensaries implemented additional security measures. However, they also observed an increase in DUI arrests in counties with dispensaries, though the correlation between the two was weak.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another 2019 study looked at the long-term effects of cannabis legalization in Colorado and Washington. Researchers concluded that dispensaries did not produce <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/07418825.2019.1666903#abstract:~:text=Our%20results%20suggest,in%20these%20states.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">significant statistical changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in violent or property crime rates. Overall, the study concluded that cannabis legalization and sales have minimal to no effect on major crimes in either state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 2024 NASEM report, experts analyzed data since then and likewise find <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/27766\/chapter\/7#206:~:text=Evidence%20on%20cannabis%20policies%20contributing,Unger%20et%20al.%2C%202020).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consistent declines in violent crime<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> overall. Additionally, dispensaries are usually zoned into historically disadvantaged areas, which may affect other crime rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>READ: <a class=\"sc-keVmGr gFomhY\" href=\"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/where-is-cannabis-legal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Where Is Cannabis Legal? A State-by-State Guide to U.S. Marijuana Laws<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Bottom Line\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the majority of Americans are in favor of at least some type of cannabis legalization, it\u2019s a good idea to pay attention to the major arguments from the other side. Understanding what concerns other people about legalization can help boost our education efforts to better inform the public.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re concerned about legalization or looking for facts to debunk other opponents\u2019 arguments, we hope the answers to these main questions will serve as a helpful resource.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not everyone supports cannabis legalization efforts, even with nearly all 50 states providing at least some form of medical cannabis access. However, according to the Pew Research Center, the majority of Americans support at least some form of cannabis legalization. Only 12% of respondents in their 2025 survey said that cannabis shouldn\u2019t be legal in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":40872,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15362],"tags":[19049,55,18963,13755,138,19047,3746,19048],"class_list":["post-40869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-cannabis-crime-myths","tag-cannabis-legalization","tag-legal-weed","tag-marijuana-laws","tag-medical-marijuana","tag-public-opinion-on-cannabis","tag-recreational-cannabis","tag-weed-health-concerns"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.1 (Yoast SEO v26.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Legal Weed Concerns: What Worries the Public Most?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What are the biggest legal weed concerns? 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