Researchers analyzed data from over six million people to see how close residents lived to cannabis retailers. Neighborhoods near these shops experienced higher cannabis-related emergency visits compared with those farther away. The effect was strongest where multiple stores were packed into small areas. These trends suggest that store density plays a meaningful role in community health.
FULL STORY
Neighborhoods within 1000 meters of cannabis retailers saw increased cannabis-related emergency visits, while unexposed areas experienced declines. Higher store density amplified the rise in harm. Credit: Shutterstock
A population-based natural experiment investigated how living near cannabis retail stores relates to cannabis-related harms. The researchers found a connection between store exposure and higher rates of harm, with the largest increases appearing in neighborhoods that had many stores located close together. These results indicate that limiting the number of cannabis retailers, reducing concentrated clusters of stores, or restricting store placement in certain areas could support public health goals. The study appears in Annals of Internal Medicine.
A research team from North York General Hospital and partner institutions analyzed data from 6,140,595 people living in Ontario, Canada. Participants were between 15 and 105 years old and lived in 10,574 neighborhoods from April 2017 through December 2022. The team examined whether living near a cannabis retail store after legalization in October 2018 influenced neighborhood-level rates of cannabis-related emergency department (ED) visits.
To define exposure, the researchers used provincial records on cannabis store locations. Neighborhoods were considered exposed if they were located within 1000m of a cannabis retail store and unexposed if they were situated more than 1000m away. The main measure of health impact was the rate of cannabis-attributable ED visits per 100,000 people aged 15 years or older.
The analysis showed that exposed neighborhoods were more commonly located in major urban centers and were disproportionately represented in the lowest income quintile compared to unexposed neighborhoods. After a cannabis store opened nearby, exposed neighborhoods did not show a rise in monthly cannabis-attributable ED visits. By contrast, unexposed neighborhoods experienced a decline in monthly ED visits over the same period.
When the two groups were compared directly, exposed neighborhoods had a 12% increase (CI, 6% to 19%) in the absolute rate of cannabis-attributable ED visits relative to unexposed areas. The researchers also observed that neighborhoods with several cannabis stores located within 1000m experienced greater increases in ED visits than areas with fewer stores. According to the authors, these findings suggest that the combination of legalization and retail expansion may introduce public health risks that differ from legalization on its own.
Story Source:
Materials provided by American College of Physicians. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Erik Loewen Friesen, Michael Pugliese, Rachael MacDonald-Spracklin, Doug Manuel, Kumanan Wilson, Erin Hobin, Andrew D. Pinto, Daniel T. Myran. Effect of Nonmedical Cannabis Legalization and Exposure to Retail Stores on Cannabis Harms. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2025; DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-01960[1]
Cite This Page:
American College of Physicians. "Where cannabis stores cluster, emergency visits climb." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 November 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223756.htm>.
American College of Physicians. (2025, November 28). Where cannabis stores cluster, emergency visits climb. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 28, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223756.htm
American College of Physicians. "Where cannabis stores cluster, emergency visits climb." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223756.htm (accessed November 28, 2025).
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Researchers analyzed data from over six million people to see how close residents lived to cannabis retailers. Neighborhoods near these shops experienced higher cannabis-related emergency visits compared with those farther away. The effect was strongest where multiple stores were packed into small areas. These trends suggest that store density plays a meaningful role in community health.
FULL STORY
Neighborhoods within 1000 meters of cannabis retailers saw increased cannabis-related emergency visits, while unexposed areas experienced declines. Higher store density amplified the rise in harm. Credit: Shutterstock
A population-based natural experiment investigated how living near cannabis retail stores relates to cannabis-related harms. The researchers found a connection between store exposure and higher rates of harm, with the largest increases appearing in neighborhoods that had many stores located close together. These results indicate that limiting the number of cannabis retailers, reducing concentrated clusters of stores, or restricting store placement in certain areas could support public health goals. The study appears in Annals of Internal Medicine.
A research team from North York General Hospital and partner institutions analyzed data from 6,140,595 people living in Ontario, Canada. Participants were between 15 and 105 years old and lived in 10,574 neighborhoods from April 2017 through December 2022. The team examined whether living near a cannabis retail store after legalization in October 2018 influenced neighborhood-level rates of cannabis-related emergency department (ED) visits.
To define exposure, the researchers used provincial records on cannabis store locations. Neighborhoods were considered exposed if they were located within 1000m of a cannabis retail store and unexposed if they were situated more than 1000m away. The main measure of health impact was the rate of cannabis-attributable ED visits per 100,000 people aged 15 years or older.
The analysis showed that exposed neighborhoods were more commonly located in major urban centers and were disproportionately represented in the lowest income quintile compared to unexposed neighborhoods. After a cannabis store opened nearby, exposed neighborhoods did not show a rise in monthly cannabis-attributable ED visits. By contrast, unexposed neighborhoods experienced a decline in monthly ED visits over the same period.
When the two groups were compared directly, exposed neighborhoods had a 12% increase (CI, 6% to 19%) in the absolute rate of cannabis-attributable ED visits relative to unexposed areas. The researchers also observed that neighborhoods with several cannabis stores located within 1000m experienced greater increases in ED visits than areas with fewer stores. According to the authors, these findings suggest that the combination of legalization and retail expansion may introduce public health risks that differ from legalization on its own.
Story Source:
Materials provided by American College of Physicians. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Erik Loewen Friesen, Michael Pugliese, Rachael MacDonald-Spracklin, Doug Manuel, Kumanan Wilson, Erin Hobin, Andrew D. Pinto, Daniel T. Myran. Effect of Nonmedical Cannabis Legalization and Exposure to Retail Stores on Cannabis Harms. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2025; DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-01960[1]
Cite This Page:
American College of Physicians. "Where cannabis stores cluster, emergency visits climb." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 November 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223756.htm>.
American College of Physicians. (2025, November 28). Where cannabis stores cluster, emergency visits climb. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 28, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223756.htm
American College of Physicians. "Where cannabis stores cluster, emergency visits climb." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223756.htm (accessed November 28, 2025).
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July 19, 2022 — A new study found that rates of cannabis use and daily cannabis use have increased across the U.S., and current cannabis use and daily use are substantially higher among individuals residing in ...
June 28, 2022 — A new study found visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations are 22 per cent higher among individuals who use cannabis compared with those who do not. The findings also show serious ...
Feb. 23, 2022 — During periods of extreme heat, clinicians should expect to see an increase in patients requiring mental health services, according to a new study. The study found that days with higher-than-normal ...
Sep. 8, 2021 — In a study of the nine largest U.S. cities, researchers found stark racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in COVID-19 vaccination rates across neighborhoods. The study showed that high ...
