As more and more countries are relaxing their laws on cannabis use, the possibilities in the Netherlands are also being discussed more and more. While cannabis is tolerated here, it seems that whereas we used to be progressive in this area, many other countries are now rapidly overtaking us. One of the most frequently cited arguments against fully legalizing cannabis is that it would lead people—especially young people—to actually smoke more. But is that really the case? A new study says no…
“Moreover, these findings stand in stark contrast to the sensational claims often made by opponents of legalization, claims that have so far proven to be unfounded.”
Two decades of data
According to the results of the recently published study, the new U.S. laws permitting recreational marijuana use do not lead to an increase in cannabis use among teenagers. The researchers who conducted the study have even found that young people who use cannabis in U.S. states with laws legalizing adult cannabis use actually do so less frequently. The study, “Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Adolescent Use of Marijuana, Tobacco, and Alcohol,” was published last week by the Journal of Adolescent Health.
The study was structured as follows. Researchers from Boston University analyzed survey data collected over a period of more than two decades. All of this data pertained to the use of marijuana and other substances from a nationally representative sample of more than one million high school students. This data, drawn from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 1999 through 2017, provides tremendous insight into the use of marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes. It is, therefore, the perfect tool for researchers to draw conclusions from.
Read also: Can (and should) you drive after using CBD?
Less cannabis use due to legalization
An analysis of the data “found no evidence that RML [recreational marijuana legalization] was associated with an increased likelihood of marijuana use among adolescents,” the study’s authors wrote. “On the contrary, among adolescents who reported marijuana use in the past month, the frequency of use decreased by 16 percent after RML.” This would suggest that in places where cannabis is legalized, use might even decrease.
“Given the rapid expansion of recreational marijuana legalization (RML) policies, it is essential to assess whether such policies are associated with shifts in the use of marijuana and other substances, particularly among adolescents, who are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of marijuana use,” they wrote. The researchers aim to highlight the need to assess the impact of marijuana on the population.
Read also: New study links personality to specific psychedelic trips
Are arguments against legalization unfounded?
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said in a statement from the group that the study illustrates that cannabis reforms for adults can be implemented in a way that does not increase use among teenagers, contrary to the standard arguments typically used by groups opposed to cannabis legalization.
“These latest findings add to the growing body of scientific literature demonstrating that legalization policies can be implemented in a way that provides access to adults while simultaneously limiting access and abuse by minors,” Armentano said.
