University of Colorado

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Do Not Increase Teen Use, Study Shows

June 19, 2012 blogger cannabis, collectives, dispensaries, from Montana State University, medical marijuana, Medicial Marijuana, News & Articles, Office of National Drug Control Policy, pot, Stop Smoking Marijuana, Stop Smoking Pot, teenage marijuana use, the University of Oregon, University of Colorado, weed, Youth Risky Behavior Survey, 0

The rise in teen marijuana use has been a popular discussion for several weeks.  As expected, some will blame medical marijuana dispensaries for the increase even without any data to support these claims.  As we have previously written, assessing a generation and a cultural shift is not as simple as blaming marijuana collectives.

New research indicates that teenage marijuana smoking does not rise in states with legalized medical cannabis.  This also builds on the recent data that showed marijuana collectives did not impact the crime rate in the Sacramento area.  Researchers analyzed data from the Youth Risky Behavior Survey which took into account information from the 13 legal medical marijuana programs from 1993-2009.  Professors from Montana State University, the University of Oregon and the University of Colorado found no data that shows a rise in teen use in areas with marijuana dispensaries.  One of the lead researchers, Professor Daniel I. Rees of the University of Colorado said “There is anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana is finding its way into the hands of teenagers, but there’s no statistical evidence that legalization increases the probability of use.”

Marijuana.net recently posted an article citing the recent data that shows a rise in teenage marijuana smokers as well as a reduction in younger tobacco smokers.  We also made the point that this rise may be due to a combination of factors, including new age information sharing.  Patient stories and scientific data regarding cannabis are instantly available to a generation raised during the information age.  Marijuana propaganda simply cannot hold water in today’s society.  Instead we should concentrate on having an open conversation with teens and accessing whether or not it is wise to continue our policy of non-regulation when it comes to cannabis.  The culture has shifted and marijuana is here to stay. Continued efforts to deny this are starting to appear silly.

However, appearing silly rarely serves as a deterrent for government officials.  This research serves as a rebuff to statements made by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.  The office continues to assert that medical cannabis collectives are contributing to a rise in teenage marijuana use despite having evidence supporting the claim.    The office may want to do some research as it is getting more difficult to mislead a population that is more informed than the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

cannabis, collectives, dispensaries, from Montana State University, medical marijuana, News & Articles, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Pot, teenage marijuana use, the University of Oregon, University of Colorado, Weed, Youth Risky Behavior Survey