Medical Marijuana Laws Do Not Increase Teen Use
By Michael Komorn
Opponents of medical marijuana have repeatedly cited that if enacted, medical marijuana laws will impact the safety of their teens. The logic goes that if medical marijuana laws are passed, more teens will view the use of marijuana as ok, and will have easier access to the drug. A study by Montana State University, University of Oregon, and University of Colorado looked at how the passage of medical marijuana laws in 13 different states between 1993-2009 impacted levels of teen use. The study concluded that states with a medical marijuana program did not increase teen use, and that in some of those states, use actually declined. To read more about the study, click here.
If you ask teens today what is easier to obtain, marijuana or alcohol, almost every one of them will say marijuana. Though this is anecdotal evidence, it is not incomprehensible. When substances are regulated and only sold at licensed vendors, there are more barriers that teens must cross in order to obtain that substance, i.e. alcohol. Drug dealers do not card your teen, and may even entice your teen into dealing themselves by flaunting fancy clothes, shoes, and accessories they were able to purchase as a result of dealing. There are many hurdles yet to overcome to change how our nation views and deals with marijuana, but studies like the one out of these universities are continually showing that regulation of the drug works best to keep the drug out of teens’ possession, while generating revenue for the states instead of dealers on the street.
