A groundbreaking statewide investigation involving over 60,000 adult residents of Oregon has yielded illuminating insights into the relationship between proximity to cannabis retail stores and patterns of substance use. Led by David Kerr, a professor of psychological science at Oregon State University (OSU), the study meticulously analyzed nine years of data drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing telephone survey orchestrated by the Oregon Health Authority. The findings reveal a fascinating duality: while living near licensed cannabis retailers correlates with a marked increase in frequent cannabis consumption, it simultaneously associates with a reduced likelihood of heavy alcohol use among adults.
The methodology underpinning this research is notable for its nuanced approach to data linkage. Participants were not required to be aware of cannabis store locations; instead, the researchers ingeniously linked respondents’ ZIP codes with licensed retailer addresses. This geographical mapping enabled a precise assessment of local cannabis retail density and proximity, facilitating an objective measure of exposure to cannabis commercial access without relying on participants’ subjective knowledge. Consequently, this approach strengthens the validity of the associations identified between local retail environments and individual substance use behaviors.
Kerr emphasizes that participants residing in areas dense with licensed cannabis retailers demonstrated a significantly higher probability of using cannabis at least ten days per month. This frequency denotes a level of consumption suggestive of established habitual use rather than casual or experimental engagement. Intriguingly, the data also revealed a concurrent reduction in heavy alcohol consumption, defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as eight or more alcoholic drinks per week for women and fifteen or more for men. This inverse relationship between cannabis and alcohol use patterns underscores a complex interplay between substance availability and user preferences or behaviors in the context of legal cannabis markets.
Demographic stratification of the findings unveiled age-related nuances, with the strongest effects observed among individuals aged 21 to 24 and those aged 65 and older. The younger cohort represents a critical developmental window wherein the brain, particularly regions vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of substances, continues to mature. Kerr highlights that this age group corresponds to the peak risk period for the onset of cannabis use disorder, a clinical condition characterized by problematic rather than recreational use of cannabis that impairs various life domains. This raises public health concerns about early exposure and high-frequency use patterns potentially resulting from intensified retail access.
Conversely, older adults showed increased cannabis use in conjunction with diminished perceptions of cannabis-related harms. The study suggests that seniors, particularly those managing chronic illnesses, may increasingly adopt cannabis, often motivated by symptomatic relief or as an opioid alternative. Yet, Kerr cautions that the evidence base supporting many medicinal claims remains insufficient, and non-evidence-based or inappropriate use could precipitate novel health risks. This recognition calls for careful clinical guidance and age-specific interventions to navigate the therapeutic versus harmful potential of cannabis among aging populations.
Crucially, Kerr insists that living near cannabis retailers does not necessarily equate with a deliberate choice predicated on cannabis access. Instead, it is more plausible that the saturated retail environment influences behavioral norms and availability heuristics, thereby modulating consumption tendencies. This environmental effect is particularly relevant in regions where recreational cannabis sales have been legally sanctioned since 2015, creating new dynamics in substance use epidemiology and community exposure.
The research also highlights policy implications rooted in these behavioral findings. Kerr advocates for multilayered, age-informed prevention strategies that respond to evidence demonstrating the marketing of cannabis products and retail experiences heavily geared toward young adults. These strategies might encompass stricter retail zoning laws, potency regulations, or targeted educational campaigns aimed at mitigating high-risk use while balancing public health goals against consumer autonomy and economic interests.
Furthermore, the study draws attention to the divergent trajectories and needs of different age groups, emphasizing that a singular regulatory approach may not suffice. Young adults require interventions addressing neurodevelopmental susceptibility and disorder prevention, while older adults may benefit from clinical oversight to ensure safe, effective cannabis utilization, minimizing unintended adverse impacts or interactions with other medications.
Kerr’s work advances the broader discourse on cannabis legalization impacts by underscoring the duality of substance substitution phenomena: increased cannabis use might conversely reduce harmful patterns of alcohol consumption, a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality globally. This complex substitution effect could potentially offset some public health burdens traditionally attributed to alcohol, although the net population health impact remains a subject for ongoing investigation.
Acknowledging that cannabis legalization and retail proliferation remain relatively recent phenomena, Kerr underscores the importance of longitudinal surveillance and adaptive policy frameworks. Robust data collection mechanisms and interdisciplinary research will be critical to understanding evolving consumption trends, health outcomes, and social equity implications arising from expanding cannabis access.
This study’s contribution is amplified by its scale, methodological rigor, and focus on real-world retail access, positioning it as a pivotal resource informing evidence-based policymaking. Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these findings resonate beyond Oregon, offering valuable insights to states and countries grappling with the epidemiological and regulatory complexities of legal cannabis markets worldwide.
In sum, Oregon’s experience with legalized cannabis retail elucidates a nuanced behavioral landscape shaped by proximity to cannabis stores. Its implications reverberate across public health, clinical practice, and policy fields, demanding sophisticated, tailored responses that protect vulnerable populations while acknowledging the shifting cultural and substance use paradigms of the 21st century.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Oregon Adults’ Cannabis and Alcohol Use Associations with Local Cannabis Retail Access, 2014-2022
News Publication Date: 22-Oct-2025
Web References: American Journal of Preventive Medicine DOI
References:
Kerr, D. et al. (2025). Oregon Adults’ Cannabis and Alcohol Use Associations with Local Cannabis Retail Access, 2014-2022. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. DOI:10.1016/j.amepre.2025.108164
Image Credits: Cannabis sativa, Oregon State University
Keywords: Cannabis retail access, cannabis use, alcohol consumption, Oregon, legalization, behavioral epidemiology, cannabis use disorder, public health policy, substance substitution, age-related risk, chronic illness, prevention strategies
