Study: Greater Access to Marijuana Stores in Oregon Linked to More Frequent Use, Lower Heavy Alcohol Consumption

For the study, researchers at Oregon State University analyzed Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data over an eight-year period, combined with geospatial measures of cannabis retail density by ZIP code. They compared cannabis use before and after the state’s legal retail market opened, adjusting for time trends. The findings show that adults in areas with greater access to marijuana retailers were significantly more likely to report cannabis use in the past 30 days. Those in the highest third of retail access had 59% higher odds of past-month cannabis use compared to adults before retail sales began. Frequent use, defined as 10 or more days in the past month, also rose in line with retail density. Importantly, these associations were consistent across most age groups, with the exception of young adults ages 18–20, who remain barred from legal purchases.

At the same time, the study found that greater cannabis retail access was linked to lower odds of heavy alcohol use, particularly among adults ages 21 to 24 and those 65 and older. This suggests that easier access to marijuana may reduce problematic drinking in some groups.

The study concludes that further research is needed to understand how retail density shapes use patterns and what policy approaches may help balance the risks of increased cannabis consumption with potential reductions in alcohol misuse.