Federal Government Study Finds that Cannabis Legalization Doesn’t Lead to Teen Consumption

The legalization of cannabis doesn’t lead to increased teen consumption, according to a recent report coming from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health. It’s a little-known fact that counters past studies, which are often biased and have argued that teen cannabis abuse has increased in states that have legalized cannabis.

JAMA Psychiatry published a report on April 26 which was co-written by Wilson M. Compton, Deputy Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Compton was joined by co-authors Nora Volkow, chief of NIDA, and editorial board member Marsha F. Lopez. “Primary attention has been on rates of use among youth, as early adolescent use has been linked to an increased risk for addiction to cannabis and other drugs,” the informative report reads. “To our knowledge, research to date has not documented an increase in cannabis use by adolescents in the United States overall or in those states that enacted new marijuana laws.”

Researchers analyzed epidemiological data going back 25 years. Three surveys conducted in 1991-1992, 2001-2002 and 2012-2013 were analyzed to study changes in cannabis laws. No concrete correlation to increased teen consumption was found.

The NIDA study’s findings aren’t congruent with an April 20 study released by the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). The NDAA works closely with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has spoken out against cannabis multiple times. The study also contradicts a report that indicates legalization has ballooned teen abuse of cannabis. The report, not surprisingly, was spearheaded by Smart Approached to Marijuana (Project SAM). Even Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is not a fan of cannabis legalization, contradicted claims of teen consumption rates published by Project SAM. According to the Los Angeles Times, Project SAM’s political arm SAM Action Inc., violated election laws while campaigning against Proposition 64 in California and faces $6,000 in fines for alleged campaign finance violations.

Finding a scientific report without any bias is no easy task in 2017, however, NIDA’s positive report on cannabis consumption should be taken seriously.