Colorado Teens Prefer Vaping and Edibles

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap] recent study suggests that more high schoolers in Colorado are vaping or ingesting cannabis in edible form rather than smoking.

According to the study, published this week in JAMA Pediatrics, 78 percent of high school cannabis consumers reported smoking the plant. The survey is based off of the state government’s biennial health survey and gathers data from teens across Colorado. While smoking remains the most popular way to consume overall, the methods of eating, vaping and dabbing cannabis are on the rise as well. “These modes are important to monitor because of their unique psychoactive associations and potential harms, including unintentional overconsumption with edibles and an increased physiological tolerance and withdrawal associated with the high tetrahydrocannabinol levels of cannabis concentrates used for dabbing,” claims the study.

Since Colorado is the first state that legalized recreational cannabis, many look to trends in the area to see what lies ahead for the rest of the states. So, while teen cannabis consumption in general is not promising, a lower reliance on smoking is seen in a positive light by many.

Each mode of consumption has different effects that may be associated with distinct health consequences,” the overview of the study explains. “Previous research in Colorado identified smoking as the most commonly used mode of marijuana consumption among high school students and found that the prevalence of primarily ingesting marijuana declined after the implementation of retail marijuana sales. We examined changes in modes of marijuana consumption among high school students in Colorado from 2015 to 2017.”

Another recent study found that overall since legalization, teen cannabis use in general has decreased. And in general, among America’s cannabis consumers, an additional study indicates that parents who consume cannabis are stricter with their children, not more lax.

This newest study could point to an increase in awareness about health benefits in the next generation of consumers, and a desire to rely on healthy methods of cannabis consumption.