Teenagers are decreasing their interest in cannabis
- Shortly after the legalization of medical cannabis in California, there was a statistically rapid decrease in interest among children and teenagers
- According to surveys, this is a significant reduction, especially among high school-aged children
The moment you forbid something to children, you can bet they will want it twice as much. It seems the same applies to the criminalization of medical cannabis. Marijuana has been legal in California for more than two decades. The catch was only in obtaining a doctor's card, which patients had to present at the dispensary. However, since the beginning of this year, California's law on cannabis possession and use looks similar to alcohol. All persons from the age of 21 can freely pick up their favorite Kush at one of many cannabis businesses offering the best of California's organic farms.
However, during this year, a surprisingly noticeable decline in interest in cannabis among high school students has been continuously observed. Data obtained from a thorough comprehensive survey by the "California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS)" indicate the following:
- Since 2013, cannabis use among children in seventh and eighth grades has decreased by 47%
- For ninth-graders, a decline of 25% was observed in the same time period
- High school sophomores reduced their cannabis preference by 16%
- The percentage of those reporting cannabis use in the last 30 days decreased across all age categories
"The percentage decrease in cannabis use among high school students that we are currently observing is surprisingly steep."
Not only marijuana, but alcohol is also losing its cool status among schoolchildren
"The declines in drug use are surprisingly high. Almost all major statistical indicators of marijuana and alcohol consumption among young people, as well as frequent and heavy drug use, have dropped by more than 3 whole degrees," scientists describe in the conclusion of the survey.
Grants for this type of research come from California state taxes. The survey itself was conducted by the California State Department of Health Services in collaboration with the Department of Education. Data was collected from a total of 45,264 students aged from seventh grade to high school sophomores.
After legalization, the downward trend accelerates
In California, medical cannabis for patients with demonstrable need has been legal since 1996. "Since then, marijuana use among students has also begun to decline," researchers explain. Critics of legalization are again warning that in the long term, legalization will cause damage, for example, due to drugged drivers.
The study further notes in its summary: "The fact that interest in cannabis among youth has noticeably decreased after legalization requires our attention. A further planned two-year study will continue to clarify whether legislative changes really have such an impact here and in other states."
Cannabis consumption among teenagers reaches record minimums
The year 2018 is the lowest year in terms of marijuana consumption among teenagers in the last twenty years. However, the problem with the mentioned study is that its data does not answer researchers' questions about why children and teenagers stopped using cannabis.
"Current findings show us two main factors for the decline: 1. Increased cannabis use among children's parents and family members. 2. Increased number of students reporting problematic obtaining and access to alcohol and marijuana."
"All these statistics point to the long-awaited result of legalization."
Legalization supporters add that these results are observable in all states that have legalized medical cannabis and have simultaneously invested in campaigns focused on informing youth and emphasizing the fact that it is better to wait until the legal age of 21 with cannabis.
"All these statistics point to the long-awaited result of legalization." Legalization of cannabis itself is capable of reducing usage among teenagers. Opponents of legalization, of course, warned of the completely opposite result of making cannabis accessible," explains Ellen Komp, representative of the California legalization organization NORML, with pride. "The fact that we are observing the most significant decline in cannabis use among teenagers, and moreover after legalization, clearly shows the correctness of this approach. Even the most stubborn opponents of cannabis legalization cannot deny this indicator."
"It's time to stop trying to teach youth not to take drugs by imprisoning them. Modern times demand that we approach the problem from a scientific and educational angle. Moreover, recent results are a beautiful indicator and answer to the question of which direction we need to move in this matter."
Source: leafly.com
Author: David Downs