# Population-Based Analyses of Healthcare Utilization and Outcomes in Users of Medical Marijuana

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 2021 · $436,974

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Limited scientific consensus exists on the clinical, healthcare system, financial, or societal impact of
legalization of medical marijuana (MMJ) in states. The swift changes in state policies regarding MMJ use,
combined with the current national opioid epidemic, creates an impending need to better understand the
clinical, pharmacological, and behavioral impact of MMJ. The state of Arkansas approved MMJ use in 2016 by
individuals with select conditions, and dispensaries opened in May 2019. Unique data assets available through
the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative and the Arkansas Health Data Initiative (HDI) consist of
individually linked but de-identified mandatory all-payer claims, vital statistics, hospital and emergency
department (ED) discharge, and state police motor vehicular crash data, along with data on individuals who
qualify for MMJ use. This will be the first population-level analysis that measures clinical and adverse events in
a population of MMJ users and non-users through three specific aims:
Specific Aim 1: Describe demographic, geographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics; healthcare
 utilization, adverse events (new mental health diagnoses, substance abuse/overdose, suicide, accidental
 injury, or MVA accidents); and opioid and benzodiazepine use among three groups: 1) individuals eligible
 for MMJ in Arkansas who do not obtain an MMJ card (non-cardholders) , 2) individuals who are eligible
 and obtain a MMJ card but do not purchase MMJ (cardholders), and 3) those who are eligible, obtain a
 card, and purchase MMJ (consumers).
Specific Aim 2: Compare 12-month pre- and post-healthcare use and costs (inpatient and outpatient care, ED
 visits, and prescription medications), and adverse events between consumers and non-cardholders. As a
 sub-aim, we will evaluate changes in opioid and benzodiazepine utilization after commencing a course of
 MMJ therapy.
Specific Aim 3: Examine the impact of COVID-19 on MMJ cardholder requests, MMJ purchases, healthcare
 use, and adverse events.
 This project brings together five data sources to examine the impact of MMJ on Arkansans. This includes
the Arkansas All Payer Claims Database (APCD), the MMJ registry, vital statistics files, and data documenting
emergency department visits and MVAs. These data are linkable at the person level which allows person-level
analyses or healthcare utilization and outcomes. This will be the first population-level analysis that measures
clinical and adverse events in a population of MMJ users and non-users.
 Results of this research will help fill the gap in scientific knowledge by determining whether MMJ use has
benefits (e.g, decreased healthcare use and cost, substitution opioids and benzodiazepines) while producing
no additional harm (e.g., new mental health diagnosis, MVAs) and thus inform future MMJ policy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10280780
- **Project number:** 1R01DA054312-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Teresa Jo Hudson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $436,974
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10280780

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10280780, Population-Based Analyses of Healthcare Utilization and Outcomes in Users of Medical Marijuana (1R01DA054312-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10280780. Licensed CC0.

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