Minimum purchase age and Canadian cannabis hospitalizations
Population-based controlled interrupted time series
Published May 22, 2025 · Verified Oct 10, 2026
Study overview
Researchers compared cannabis-related hospitalizations above and below provincial minimum purchase ages from 2015 to 2022. After legalization, rates declined among people below the legal age while continuing to increase among those above it.
Evidence & interpretation
Canadian population data for people aged 15–44; 137,901 cannabis-related hospitalizations. The authors report a 34% relative reduction below versus above minimum age 3.5 years after legalization. Association, not proof of causation.
Limitations
An observational policy study cannot establish that age laws alone caused the differences. Hospital records measure a specific harm outcome, rather than all cannabis use or health effects.
Original citation
American Journal of Public Health / PubMed ↗
This research entry is informational and is not a clinical recommendation. Consult qualified health professionals about personal medical questions.