Exploring the Relation between Marijuana Legality and Cannabis use While Gambling

As cannabis becomes more socially acceptable, and more states continue to pass laws allowing medical or recreational marijuana usage, questions around how this legalization may impact harms relating to cannabis use while gambling arise. Gambling while under the influence of cannabis has been associated with risky gambling behavior and an increased risk of gambling disorder. In this study we recruited a sample of 769 US-based frequent gamblers and examined the differences in endorsement of gambling under the influence of cannabis, differences in the frequency, intensity, and duration of gambling behavior, and differences in gambling pathology based on the legal status of marijuana in the individuals’ state of residence. We found significant differences based on legality status, with the percentage of participants most likely to endorse gambling under the influence of cannabis living in jurisdictions where marijuana was medically permitted. There were no differences in self-reported gambling behavior or problem gambling severity based on the legal status of marijuana. We found no association between the legal status of marijuana and an increase in harm related to gambling under the influence of cannabis.