Report States That Cannabis Legalization Has Not Increased Youth Consumption

Policy paper titled “”Youth and Cannabis Initiatives: Solutions to Fight and Prevent Youth Misuse through the Federal Regulatory SystemReleased by CPEAR on March 16th, it reviews data on how youth consumption of cannabis has not increased since legalization began.The report was also presented in CPEAR Roundtable Senator John Hickenlooper, held on March 17th, CPEAR Co-Chair Greg Walden more.

In a press release, CPEAR Executive Director Andrew Freedman shared that the report serves as a guide to the prevention of young people in the region and as an inspiration for legislators to enact preventive regulations. “More than 100 million Americans live in states with legalized adult cannabis, but what we need to consider is what that means for young people in our country. . ” Friedman said.. “The study emphasizes that communities and stakeholders need to be at the forefront of this effort to prevent young people from using cannabis. In addition, a data-based federal cannabis framework. Outlines the need for congressional action to build, modify current cannabis law patchwork, and take precautions to protect young Americans from cannabis misuse. “

One of the main topics the report investigates is that youth consumption is “declining or leveling off in regulated markets.” When we examined the data on consumption in grades 8, 10, and 12, the results were fairly stable. “State legalization of cannabis has, on average, not affected the prevalence of cannabis use in adolescence,” the report said. “In other words, states with medical and / or adult usage do not see a significant increase in adolescent use compared to states where use remains illegal.” A. Monitor the future The graph shows a dramatic decrease in 12th grade consumption between the 1975 and 1990s (data for 8th and 10th grades were not collected at the time). In 2020, all three grades declined. This may be due to the lack of availability or access to cannabis during a pandemic.

The report also lists after-school or school prevention programs, counseling opportunities, community initiatives, and digital interventions through a combination of early prevention methods, sharing that youth consumption may continue to decline. I am. “The most successful public education campaign to date is the” What You Need to Know “program that began in Colorado, without judging an educational statement based on evidence of cannabis use laws and potential health effects. We will provide it at. ” “According to research studies, the campaign not only raised awareness, but also significantly raised awareness of the risks associated with CUD, driving under the influence of cannabis, and producing negative cognitive results related to cannabis use. It also suggests that increasing youth-specific legislation will affect youth consumption, especially if more attention is paid to marketing and advertising.

Finally, the report also said that if illegal cannabis sales were targeted, youth access to cannabis would also decrease. “The legitimate cannabis market is increasing the availability of powerful products that are associated with an increased risk of mental illness and CUD. But unlike the tobacco and alcohol industry, it gives young people access to cannabis. There is a widespread illegal cannabis market that is easy to offer, “the report said. “Illegal purchased cannabis is more likely to contain contaminants, including other illegal substances, than products available on the regulated market. Therefore, for the legal sale of strong products. Increasing vigilance may be the best balance to reduce the risk of cannabis-related harm in young people. “

CPEAR Release Obtained member support from tobacco and alcohol on March 11, 2021 Enterprise, Altria Client Services, Constellation Brands, Inc., Molson Coors Beverage Company, etc.Many other studies have found the same observations on youth consumption of cannabis, including those published in journals. Substance abuse March 2021 Or another publication American Journal of Public Health August 2020.