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Legalizing medical marijuana doesn't increase use among adolescents, study says
Date:
April 23, 2014
Source:
Lifespan
Summary:
Parents
and physicians concerned about an increase in adolescents' marijuana
use following the legalization of medical marijuana can breathe a sigh
of relief. According to a new study that compared 20 years worth of data
from states with and without medical marijuana laws, legalizing the
drug did not lead to increased use among adolescents.
Young cannabis plant. Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
Credit: © sarra22 / Fotolia
Parents
and physicians concerned about an increase in adolescents' marijuana
use following the legalization of medical marijuana can breathe a sigh
of relief. According to a new study at Rhode Island Hospital which
compared 20 years worth of data from states with and without medical
marijuana laws, legalizing the drug did not lead to increased use among
adolescents. The study is published online in advance of print in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
"Any
time a state considers legalizing medical marijuana, there are concerns
from the public about an increase in drug use among teens," said
principal investigator Esther Choo, M.D., an attending physician in the
department of emergency medicine at Rhode Island Hospital. "In this
study, we examined 20 years worth of data, comparing trends in
self-reported adolescent marijuana use between states with medical
marijuana laws and neighboring states without the laws, and found no
increase in marijuana use that could be attributed to the law."
Choo continued, "This adds to a growing body of literature published over the past three years that is remarkably consistent in demonstrating that state medical marijuana policies do not have a downstream effect on adolescent drug use, as we feared they might."
Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
The study examined a nationally representative sample of high school students. The data showed that past-month marijuana use was common, at nearly 21 percent of the study population. However, there were no statistically significant differences in marijuana use before and after policy changes in any state pairing.
"Researchers should continue to monitor and measure marijuana use," Choo said. "But we hope that this information will provide some level of reassurance to policymakers, physicians, and parents about medical marijuana laws."
Choo's principal affiliation is Rhode Island Hospital, and she also holds an academic appointment as an assistant professor of emergency medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Choo continued, "This adds to a growing body of literature published over the past three years that is remarkably consistent in demonstrating that state medical marijuana policies do not have a downstream effect on adolescent drug use, as we feared they might."
Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
The study examined a nationally representative sample of high school students. The data showed that past-month marijuana use was common, at nearly 21 percent of the study population. However, there were no statistically significant differences in marijuana use before and after policy changes in any state pairing.
"Researchers should continue to monitor and measure marijuana use," Choo said. "But we hope that this information will provide some level of reassurance to policymakers, physicians, and parents about medical marijuana laws."
Choo's principal affiliation is Rhode Island Hospital, and she also holds an academic appointment as an assistant professor of emergency medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Lifespan. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by Lifespan. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- Esther K. Choo, Madeline Benz, Nikolas Zaller, Otis Warren, Kristin L. Rising, K. John McConnell. The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Legislation on Adolescent Marijuana Use. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.02.018
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