Citation

Lipperman-Kreda S, Grube JW. J. Adolesc. Health 2018; 63(1): 5-6.

Affiliation

Prevention Research Center Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation Oakland, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.05.003

PMID

30060857

Abstract

In the United States, as of March 2018, medical use of marijuana is legal in 28 states and the District of Columbia, and recreational use is legal in eight states and the District of Columbia [1,2]. The liberalization of marijuana laws raises public health concerns, particularly about possible effects on adolescents’ marijuana use and problems. Despite potential risks [3–11], the 2016 Monitoring the Future survey shows that 36% of 12th graders and 24% of 10th graders reported past-year marijuana use and 23% and 14%, respectively, reported past 30-day use [12]. About 81% of 12th graders and 64% of 10th graders reported that marijuana is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get. Only 31% of 12th graders and 44% of 10th graders perceived “great risk” in regular marijuana use.

Commercialization of cannabis, including marijuana, concentrates, and edibles, may affect adolescents’ use directly by increasing availability or indirectly by promoting beliefs that its use is safe and normative ...

Language: en