Julie K Johnson1, Renee M Johnson2, Dominic Hodgkin2, Abenaa A Jones3, Alexandra Kritikos4, Samantha M Doonan1, Sion K Harris5,6,7. 1. Cannabis Control Commission, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. 2. Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 3. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA. 4. Institute for Behavioral Health, Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. 5. The Center for Adolescent Substance use and Addiction Research (CeASAR), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 7. Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
Background: States are rapidly moving to reverse marijuana prohibition, most frequently through legalization of medical marijuana laws (MMLs), and there is concern that marijuana legalization may affect adolescent marijuana use. Methods: This natural-experimental study used state Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data collected from participants in grades 9-12 from 1991 to 2015 in 46 states (N = 1,091,723). Taking advantage of heterogeneity across states in MML status and MML dispensary design, difference-in-difference estimates compared states with enacted MMLs/dispensaries to non-MML/dispensaries states. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to adjust for state and year effects, and student demographics. The main outcome assessed was past 30-day adolescent marijuana use ["any" and "heavy" (≥20)]. Results: In the overall sample, the adjusted odds of adolescents reporting any past 30-day marijuana use was lower in states that enacted MMLs at any time during the study period (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.99; p < .05), and in states with operational dispensaries in 2015 (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99; p < .05). Among grade cohorts, only 9th graders showed a significant effect, with lower odds of use with MML enactment. We found no effects on heavy marijuana use. Conclusions: This study found no evidence between 1991 and 2015 of increases in adolescents reporting past 30-day marijuana use or heavy marijuana use associated with state MML enactment or operational MML dispensaries. In a constantly evolving marijuana policy landscape, continued monitoring of adolescent marijuana use is important for assessing policy effects.
Background: States are rapidly moving to reverse marijuana prohibition, most frequently through legalization of medical marijuana laws (MMLs), and there is concern that marijuana legalization may affect adolescent marijuana use. Methods: This natural-experimental study used state Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data collected from participants in grades 9-12 from 1991 to 2015 in 46 states (N = 1,091,723). Taking advantage of heterogeneity across states in MML status and MML dispensary design, difference-in-difference estimates compared states with enacted MMLs/dispensaries to non-MML/dispensaries states. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to adjust for state and year effects, and student demographics. The main outcome assessed was past 30-day adolescent marijuana use ["any" and "heavy" (≥20)]. Results: In the overall sample, the adjusted odds of adolescents reporting any past 30-day marijuana use was lower in states that enacted MMLs at any time during the study period (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.99; p < .05), and in states with operational dispensaries in 2015 (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99; p < .05). Among grade cohorts, only 9th graders showed a significant effect, with lower odds of use with MML enactment. We found no effects on heavy marijuana use. Conclusions: This study found no evidence between 1991 and 2015 of increases in adolescents reporting past 30-day marijuana use or heavy marijuana use associated with state MML enactment or operational MML dispensaries. In a constantly evolving marijuana policy landscape, continued monitoring of adolescent marijuana use is important for assessing policy effects.
Entities:
Keywords:
Marijuana; adolescents; heavy marijuana use; marijuana laws; medical marijuana; substance use
Authors: Esther K Choo; Madeline Benz; Nikolas Zaller; Otis Warren; Kristin L Rising; K John McConnell Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2014-04-16 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Melanie M Wall; Christine Mauro; Deborah S Hasin; Katherine M Keyes; Magdalena Cerda; Silvia S Martins; Tianshu Feng Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2016-02-01
Authors: Silvia S Martins; Christine M Mauro; Julian Santaella-Tenorio; June H Kim; Magdalena Cerda; Katherine M Keyes; Deborah S Hasin; Sandro Galea; Melanie Wall Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2016-10-11 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Renee M Johnson; Brian Fairman; Tamika Gilreath; Ziming Xuan; Emily F Rothman; Taylor Parnham; C Debra M Furr-Holden Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2015-09-02 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Laura Kann; Tim McManus; William A Harris; Shari L Shanklin; Katherine H Flint; Joseph Hawkins; Barbara Queen; Richard Lowry; Emily O'Malley Olsen; David Chyen; Lisa Whittle; Jemekia Thornton; Connie Lim; Yoshimi Yamakawa; Nancy Brener; Stephanie Zaza Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2016-06-10
Authors: Aaron L Sarvet; Melanie M Wall; David S Fink; Emily Greene; Aline Le; Anne E Boustead; Rosalie Liccardo Pacula; Katherine M Keyes; Magdalena Cerdá; Sandro Galea; Deborah S Hasin Journal: Addiction Date: 2018-02-22 Impact factor: 6.526