The legalization of recreational cannabis in Colorado and Washington state was not associated with increases in adolescent treatment admissions for the drug, according to new research published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
“The growth of marijuana legalization represents a dramatic change in drug policy from previous decades. It’s important to understand the public health implications, particularly for adolescents, for whom frequent marijuana use may be particularly harmful,” said study author Jeremy Mennis, a professor of geography and urban studies at Temple University.
The researchers examined data collected between 2008 and 2017 by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which tracks admissions to publicly-funded substance use treatment facilities. They found that the rate of cannabis treatment admissions in the United States had declined over time. In addition, compared to other states, the rate of admission declined more rapidly among adolescents in Colorado and Washington following the legalization of cannabis.