Prevalence and self-reported reasons of cannabis use for medical purposes in USA and Canada

Rationale There has been increasing attention on cannabis use for medical purposes, but there is currently a lack of data on its epidemiology. Objectives To examine the epidemiology of self-reported cannabis use for medical purposes by (1) estimating its prevalence, (2) comparing gender and age differences, and (3) investigating what reasons they were used to manage. Methods Participants included 27,169 respondents (aged 16–65) who completed Wave 1 of The International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS) conducted across Canada and the USA in 2018 via online surveys. Cannabis policy conditions were “US legal–recreational” (legal for both recreational and medical uses), “US legal–medical only”, “US illegal”, and “Canada–medical only”. Results The overall prevalence of self-reported ever cannabis use for medical purposes was 27%, with similar rates by sex and the highest prevalence in young adults. Prevalence was higher in US legal–recreational states (34%) than US illegal states (23%), US legal–medical only states (25%), and Canada (25%). The most common physical health reasons include use to manage pain (53%), sleep (46%), headaches/migraines (35%), appetite (22%), and nausea/vomiting (21%). For mental health reasons, the most common were for anxiety (52%), depression (40%), and PTSD/trauma (17%). There were 11% who reported using cannabis for managing other drug or alcohol use and 4% for psychosis. Conclusions A substantial proportion of the North American population self-reported cannabis use for medical purposes for a variety of medical reasons, including those living in jurisdictions without legal markets. Further research is needed to understand the safety and efficacy of these forms of medical cannabis use.

Omnibus Law on Job Creation and Resilience Prospects of Indonesian Migrant Workers

The Omnibus Law on Job Creation has repealed two regulations and amended at least 80 (eighty) other laws since it was officially promulgated on November 2, 2020. Four laws are particularly affected in the labor cluster, including regulations pertaining to Migrant Workers, which have not been widely explained. The purpose of this paper is to explain the dynamics of Indonesian Migrant Workers (IMW) regulatory policy as well as several issues in the omnibus law on Job Creation. To further analyze and describe the Omnibus law's implications for IMW resilience. This research, as a policy study, makes use of secondary data in the form of statutory regulation and literature. The data were analyzed using conceptual and normative approaches, and the results were presented in a descriptive-qualitative format. According to the findings, IMW's regulatory policies included international policies emphasizing the recognition of migrant workers' rights. Meanwhile, at the national level, IMW protection policies are governed by a specific law that has evolved over time to be more accommodating to their needs. The presence of the Omnibus law, however, has changed and loosened the licensing provisions in the law for Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Companies (P3MI), which has an impact on IMW's vulnerability. As a result, rather than being progressive, the omnibus law on Job Creation reduces the prospect of resilience for Indonesian migrant workers.

Qualitative Research and Aging in Context: Implications to Social Study in China

This article begins with a review of methods that gerontologists use in social and behavioral research. The value and focus of qualitative research are highlighted with their epistemological roots. Qualitative approaches and their uses are summarized in terms of “interpretive” and “critical” social sciences that draw the insights of sociological paradigms. With a further review of qualitative research on aging and gerontological studies in China, the article focuses on an integrated micro-macro model by illuminating the ideas of clinical sociology and the general public policy framework of an “economic state in transition.” Implications to social policy study (particularly on aging in China) are discussed.

Omnibus Law on Job Creation and Resilience Prospects of Indonesian Migrant Workers

The Omnibus Law on Job Creation has repealed two regulations and amended at least 80 (eighty) other laws since it was officially promulgated on November 2, 2020. Four laws are particularly affected in the labor cluster, including regulations pertaining to Migrant Workers, which have not been widely explained. The purpose of this paper is to explain the dynamics of Indonesian Migrant Workers (IMW) regulatory policy as well as several issues in the omnibus law on Job Creation. To further analyze and describe the Omnibus law's implications for IMW resilience. This research, as a policy study, makes use of secondary data in the form of statutory regulation and literature. The data were analyzed using conceptual and normative approaches, and the results were presented in a descriptive-qualitative format. According to the findings, IMW's regulatory policies included international policies emphasizing the recognition of migrant workers' rights. Meanwhile, at the national level, IMW protection policies are governed by a specific law that has evolved over time to be more accommodating to their needs. The presence of the Omnibus law, however, has changed and loosened the licensing provisions in the law for Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Companies (P3MI), which has an impact on IMW's vulnerability. As a result, rather than being progressive, the omnibus law on Job Creation reduces the prospect of resilience for Indonesian migrant workers.

Kartu Prakerja (Pre-Employment Card) Policy and Its Impact on Economy and Community Income

This Kartu Prakerja (Pre-Employment Card) Policy Study aims to analyze the impact of the government's 2021 budget allocation of IDR 30 Trillion (US$ 2.065 billion) on the Indonesian economy and the increasing of community income, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of implementing the pre-employment card program. The novelty of this study is regarding to its study ability to find solutions for quantitative government budget allocation policies in the context of policy making. The results show that the government's budget allocation for the Pre-Employment Card Program is able to increase Indonesia's Economic Growth by 0.23 percent and community income by 0.53 percent.

Public Policy Implementation of the Jakarta Government's Policy: Study of Community Relocation Around the Reservoir

This study aims to understand the Jakarta government's policy in relocating people from the Ria Rio Reservoir and placing them in flats (rusunawa). Based on the research findings that have been done, it is concluded that strict facility restrictions are necessary to prevent the transfer of rental rights from low-income people to the upper class. The existence of a Management Agency is deemed necessary by residents. It is evidenced by the high number of answers residents require of a Management Agency and supported again by the feeling of obedience to the residents' management board. Constraints in the provision of housing on the need side It is difficult to invite low-income people and residents of slums who are generally classified as poor to want to live in apartment units. Performance measurement cannot be done only on a one-year deadline. Performance has been disrupted by past policies that have prevented the achievement of housing development targets (rusunawa) from being fully met. A synergy between regional and central interests is needed. Program handling must be in synergy with other program policies.

Public acceptability of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy: repeat cross-sectional analysis of the International Food Policy Study (2017–2019)

ObjectivesTo determine whether public acceptability, in terms of both support for and perceived effectiveness of, the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) changed between 4 months prior to, and 8 and 20 months after, implementation.DesignRepeat cross-sectional online survey.SettingThe UK.ParticipantsUK respondents to the International Food Policy Study aged 18–64 years who provided information on all variables of interest in November–December 2017 (4 months prior to SDIL implementation), 2018 (8 months after) or 2019 (20 months after; n=10 284).Outcome measuresSelf-reported support for, and perceived effectiveness of, the SDIL.ResultsThe adjusted logistic regression model predicted that 70% (95% CI: 68% to 72%) of participants supported the SDIL in 2017, 68% (95% CI: 67% to 70%) in 2018 and 68% (95% CI: 66% to 70%) in 2019. There was no evidence of a difference in support in 2018 vs 2017 (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.05); or in 2019 vs 2017 (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.03). The adjusted logistic regression model predicted that 72% (95% CI: 70% to 74%) of participants perceived the SDIL to be effective in 2017, 67% (95% CI: 65% to 69%) in 2018 and 67% (95% CI: 64% to 69%) in 2019. There was evidence that perceived effectiveness decreased a small amount in 2018 vs 2017 (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.88). The difference in 2019 vs 2017 was similar.ConclusionsWe found high support for the SDIL among UK adults and this did not change between 4 months before implementation and 8 or 20 months after. While perceived effectiveness remained high, there was evidence that this decreased slightly after implementation in 2018, but no further in 2019. Greater understanding of influences on public acceptability of effective structural public health interventions is required.