A Research Agenda to Inform Cannabis Regulation: How Science Can Shape Policy.

In the United States, changes to cannabis policy have outpaced scientific knowledge about cannabis, its effects, and the impacts of different policy approaches. Research barriers stem from key federal policies, including strict drug scheduling of cannabis, which comprehensively hinder the ability to conduct cannabis research, affecting state markets, evidence-based regulation, and scientific gains that could more effectively shape policy moving forward. The Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that convenes and supports government agencies to facilitate information exchange and learning from existing cannabis regulations across US states and territories and other governmental jurisdictions. This commentary outlines a research agenda that, if implemented, would address critical gaps in the science that cannabis regulators have identified in terms of knowledge regarding: (1) medicinal use of cannabis; (2) cannabis product safety; (3) cannabis consumer behaviors; (4) policies to promote equity and reduce disparities, both in the industry and more broadly in communities affected by the past criminalization of cannabis; (5) policies to prevent youth consumption and promote public health and safety; and (6) policies to reduce the illicit market and associated harms. The research agenda outlined here is the result of both formal discussions through CANNRA-wide meetings and informal discussions cannabis regulators have had as part of CANNRA committees. This research agenda is not all encompassing but rather highlights areas of research that have vital importance for cannabis regulation and policy implementation. Although many organizations weigh in on research needs related to cannabis, cannabis regulators (ie, the individuals implementing policies legalizing cannabis in states and territories) have generally not had a voice at the table advocating for specific research to be conducted. Their perspective representing the government agencies closest to the ground in terms of experiencing the impacts of current cannabis policy is essential to furthering quality, practical research that can advance informed and effective policy.

Elastogranular columns and beams.

String and grains can be combined to create structures capable of bearing significant loads. In this work, we prepare columns and beams through a layer-by-layer deposition of granular matter and loops of fiber strings, and characterize their mechanical properties. The loops cause the grains to jam, and the inter-grain contact leads to a Hertzian-like constitutive response. Initially, one force chain that propagates vertically through the column bears most of the compressive load. As the magnitude of the load is increased, more force chains form in the column, which act in parallel to increase its stiffness, akin to a "super-Hertzian" regime. Applying a compressive prestress enables the structures to withstand shear, enabling the fabrication of cantilevered beams. This work provides a mechanical framework to use elastogranular jamming to create rapid, reusable infrastructure components, such as columns, beams, and arches from inexpensive, commonplace materials, such as rocks and string.

Hospital readmission among participants in a transitional case management program.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between participation in a large wellness and care management company's transitional case management (TCM) program and hospital readmission. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 10,258 members were identified as either participants or nonparticipants in TCM from data archives of a large healthcare company. Engagement and claims data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Readmission predictors that were studied included TCM engagement, the major diagnostic categories of "musculoskeletal" and "digestive," length of stay for the initial hospitalization, cost of initial inpatient stay, risk score, age, and sex. RESULTS: Readmission rates were lower among individuals who were engaged in TCM compared with those who were not engaged. Within 30 days, 12.66% of individuals participating in TCM were readmitted to the hospital compared with 35.85% of those not participating (P <.0001). In the first 30 days, individuals who did not participate in TCM were almost 4 times more likely to have a hospital readmission than those who did participate. The most important predictor of hospital readmission was engagement in TCM. Individuals who were engaged in the program were less likely to be readmitted than those not engaged in the program (P <.0001). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a telephonic TCM program was associated with lower rates of readmission within 30 days. Timely engagement in TCM was associated with a lower likelihood of readmission.