Abstract
Purpose: Since 1996, 16 states have legalized marijuana use for medical purposes. The current study provides a scientific assessment of the association of medical marijuana laws (MML) and adolescent marijuana use using national data. Method: State representative survey data on approximately 23,000 12-17 year olds were collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health annually from 2002-2008. Yearly state-specific estimates of prevalence of past-month marijuana use and perception of its riskiness were statistically tested for differences between states with and without MML by year and across years. Results: States with MML had higher average adolescent marijuana use, 8.68% (95% CI: 7.95-9.42) and lower perception of riskiness, during the period 2002-2008 compared to states without MML, 6.94% (95% CI: 6.60-7.28%). In the eight states that passed MML since 2004, in the years prior to MML passage, there was already a higher prevalence of use and lower perceptions of risk in those states compared to states that have not passed MML. Conclusions: While the most likely of several possible explanations for higher adolescent marijuana use and lower perceptions of risk in MML states cannot be determined from the current study, results clearly suggest the need for more empirically-based research on this topic.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 714-716 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Annals of Epidemiology |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cannabinoids/Therapeutic Use
- Cannabis
- Drug, Marijuana Smoking/Legislation & Jurisprudence
- Legislation
- State Government, Adolescent
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
Cite this
Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008 : Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear. / Wall, Melanie M.; Poh, Ernest; Cerda, Magdalena; Keyes, Katherine M.; Galea, Sandro; Hasin, Deborah S.
In: Annals of Epidemiology, Vol. 21, No. 9, 01.09.2011, p. 714-716.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008
T2 - Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear
AU - Wall, Melanie M.
AU - Poh, Ernest
AU - Cerda, Magdalena
AU - Keyes, Katherine M.
AU - Galea, Sandro
AU - Hasin, Deborah S.
PY - 2011/9/1
Y1 - 2011/9/1
N2 - Purpose: Since 1996, 16 states have legalized marijuana use for medical purposes. The current study provides a scientific assessment of the association of medical marijuana laws (MML) and adolescent marijuana use using national data. Method: State representative survey data on approximately 23,000 12-17 year olds were collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health annually from 2002-2008. Yearly state-specific estimates of prevalence of past-month marijuana use and perception of its riskiness were statistically tested for differences between states with and without MML by year and across years. Results: States with MML had higher average adolescent marijuana use, 8.68% (95% CI: 7.95-9.42) and lower perception of riskiness, during the period 2002-2008 compared to states without MML, 6.94% (95% CI: 6.60-7.28%). In the eight states that passed MML since 2004, in the years prior to MML passage, there was already a higher prevalence of use and lower perceptions of risk in those states compared to states that have not passed MML. Conclusions: While the most likely of several possible explanations for higher adolescent marijuana use and lower perceptions of risk in MML states cannot be determined from the current study, results clearly suggest the need for more empirically-based research on this topic.
AB - Purpose: Since 1996, 16 states have legalized marijuana use for medical purposes. The current study provides a scientific assessment of the association of medical marijuana laws (MML) and adolescent marijuana use using national data. Method: State representative survey data on approximately 23,000 12-17 year olds were collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health annually from 2002-2008. Yearly state-specific estimates of prevalence of past-month marijuana use and perception of its riskiness were statistically tested for differences between states with and without MML by year and across years. Results: States with MML had higher average adolescent marijuana use, 8.68% (95% CI: 7.95-9.42) and lower perception of riskiness, during the period 2002-2008 compared to states without MML, 6.94% (95% CI: 6.60-7.28%). In the eight states that passed MML since 2004, in the years prior to MML passage, there was already a higher prevalence of use and lower perceptions of risk in those states compared to states that have not passed MML. Conclusions: While the most likely of several possible explanations for higher adolescent marijuana use and lower perceptions of risk in MML states cannot be determined from the current study, results clearly suggest the need for more empirically-based research on this topic.
KW - Cannabinoids/Therapeutic Use
KW - Cannabis
KW - Drug, Marijuana Smoking/Legislation & Jurisprudence
KW - Legislation
KW - State Government, Adolescent
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79961076725&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79961076725&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001
DO - 10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 21820632
AN - SCOPUS:79961076725
VL - 21
SP - 714
EP - 716
JO - Annals of Epidemiology
JF - Annals of Epidemiology
SN - 1047-2797
IS - 9
ER -