Cannabis use and abuse among teens and young adults have changed in some ways after it became legal. On the one hand, some studies have found that when weed is legalized, more young people use it. For instance, a report in the journal Pediatrics found that the use of marijuana by teens and young adults rose by 25% in states that let people buy and use it legally.
Other studies, on the other hand, have shown that making weed legal does not make more young people use it. For instance, a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that states that approved medical cannabis did not lead to more marijuana use among teens and young adults.
The effects of legalizing weed on drug abuse among teens are also not apparent. In the past few years, marijuana legalization has been a hot topic of discussion. Many states have decided to allow the drug for both medical and recreational use. People who support legalization say it can help lower crime rates and bring in money for the government. On the other hand, people who are against it say it could hurt public health, especially among young people.
A lot of research has shown that when weed is legalized, more young people become addicted to it. For instance, a study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that marijuana use disorder among teens rose by 38% in states where marijuana use was allowed for leisure purposes. This is a worrying trend because addiction can have harmful long-term effects on young people, such as decreased brain function, mental health problems, and a higher chance of abusing drugs later in life.
Legalizing
One reason for this rise in addiction among teens and young adults could be that legalizing marijuana has made it seem normal to use it. In places where marijuana is legal and easy to get, teens and young adults might think it is safe, which can lead to trying it and eventually becoming addicted. It may also be easier for young people to get drugs if they are legal, either through legal routes or from older friends or family.
The strength of current cannabis strains is another possible cause. The THC amounts in marijuana today can be higher than 20%, which is a lot higher than in the 1980s. The more potent drug may be more addicting and more likely to have harmful effects, especially in young people whose brains are still growing.
Even with these worries, many people who want to legalize marijuana say that the pros are more excellent than the cons. They say that legalization could be good for the economy and that it could cut down on the number of people who are in jail for minor drug crimes. But it’s essential to think about how it might affect young people and take steps to lower the chances of addiction and other nasty things happening.
This could mean putting strict rules on the sale and marketing of weed and spending money on programs that teach and discourage drug use so that young people can make intelligent choices about drugs.
Some other research has shown that making weed legal does not make more young people addicted for the same reason. For instance, a study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that states that approved medical cannabis did not see a rise in the number of teens and young adults with marijuana use disorders.
Effects of Legalization
In general, legalizing cannabis has had mixed effects on the use and abuse of young people. We need to do more study to fully understand how legalizing cannabis will affect the use and consumption of cannabis by young people. Here are some things that might affect how legalizing weed affects the use and abuse of young people:
Age: States that made weed legal for younger people have seen a more significant rise in the number of teens and young adults who use it.
The ease of access to weed: In states with stricter rules on the cannabis business, the number of young people using it has gone up less.
How much weed costs: States with higher prices have seen a smaller rise in the use of cannabis by teens and young adults.
Campaigns to teach the public about the dangers of cannabis use: In states that do this, the number of teens and young adults who use weed has gone up less.
It’s important to remember that cannabis legalization is still relatively new. More study is needed to fully understand how it will affect youth use and addiction in the long run.
