Study finds marijuana use among high school students increased 3 per cent over four years
31 Dec 2016
After the first recreational marijuana shop opened nearly three years ago in Colorado, a growing body of research has shown that the availability of recreational marijuana - in Colorado and elsewhere was not having much effect on teens' propensity to smoke weed.
However, contrary to the new stance on use of marijuana, a study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that marijuana use among high school students in Washington state, two years before and after the vote to legalise in 2012, increased by about 3 per cent among 8th- and 10th-graders over that period.
According to the authors, reduced stigma about marijuana use was one factor leading to the results that they observed.
''Our study suggests that legalization of marijuana in Washington reduced stigma and perceived risk of use,'' said lead author Magdalena Cerdá of the University of California in Davis in a news release, ''which could explain why younger adolescents are using more marijuana after legalization.''
The results posed something of a puzzle as the study found no change in marijuana use among 12th-graders in Washington state. According to the authors, this could be because the 12th-graders in the study were old enough that ''they had already formed attitudes and beliefs related to marijuana use'' before the legal change.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Legislature has approved a six-month delay of a number of key provisions in the states' new recreational marijuana law. This included the licensing of pot shops which drew the ire of backers of the measure.
The bill was passed by the house and senate without a public hearing and without debate during lightly attended, informal sessions in both chambers Wednesday.
Under the initiative adults above 21 would be allowed to possess and use limited amounts of recreational marijuana and grow as many as a dozen potted plants in their homes. It was approved by 53.7 per cent of voters on 8 November and came into effect on 15 December.
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