Does Legalizing Cannabis Increase Adolescent Use? This Expert Found Mixed Results.

This post was written by Ojas Gupta,

Based on article by Matt Richtel, The New York Times

Article last edited on May 20, 2024

Contrary to common belief, legalizing cannabis does not necessarily lead to increased use among adolescents, according to a major study led by Rebekah Levine Coley, a developmental psychologist at Boston College. The study, published in JAMA, analyzed data from 900,000 high school students from 2011 to 2021 and found that fewer minors reported using cannabis in states where the drug was legalized. However, in the 18 states with legalized retail sales, some adolescents who were already users consumed it more frequently. Overall, cannabis use among adolescents showed a slight decline or remained flat.

Coley suggests that moving cannabis sales to legal markets with age restrictions might have reduced access for adolescents. Additionally, increased parental awareness and discussions about cannabis risks could have contributed to this trend. Despite some adolescents using cannabis more frequently, the findings offer hope that federal legalization might not lead to significant increases in adolescent use. However, tracking youth cannabis use remains crucial due to potential health risks, especially with vaping and edibles.

This deeper view challenges the assumption that legalizing marijuana would lead to more use among young people and highlights the importance of continued public health monitoring and education.