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New JAMA study shows legalizing pot might discourage teen use
CNBC ^ | July 8, 2019 | Angelica LaVito

Posted on 07/09/2019 7:56:23 AM PDT by luv2ski

Legalizing pot does not appear to encourage teen use and might actually discourage it, a study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics suggests.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 1.4 million high school students between 1993 and 2017, collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its Youth Risk Behavior survey. The results show teen pot use both before and after medical marijuana laws were adopted in 27 states, seven of which also legalized recreational marijuana during the survey period.

Teen marijuana use didn’t change much after medical marijuana was legalized, they found. In states that legalized recreational use, the number of teens who said they smoked pot in the previous 30 days dropped 8% while the number who used it 10 or more times fell by 9%.

One theory floated by the study’s authors was that teens may find it more difficult to access marijuana if drug dealers are replaced by licensed dispensaries that require proof of age, possibly contributing to the decrease.

Eleven states and the District of Columbia have now legalized recreational use of marijuana, while 34 states permit medical use. Some worry normalizing pot will give young people the impression that marijuana is harmless. Plus, they worry that selling pot at dispensaries will make it easy for young people to access the drug.

The study estimates an association between legalization and teen use, not causation, meaning the study does not show conclusively that legalizing pot causes a decrease in teen use. Still, the findings are consistent with similar research that suggests teens might smoke less pot in states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal.

The study was conducted by D. Mark Anderson of Montana State University, Benjamin Hansen of the University of Oregon, Daniel Rees of the University of Colorado Denver and Joseph Sabia of San Diego State University. The research was funded by grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health and the Charles Koch Foundation.

Though generally aligned with Republicans, the Koch brothers have split with the party on marijuana and some other issues. The powerful libertarian donors support states legalizing pot and criticize federal attempts to thwart local laws.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: aldoushuxley; bravenewworld; cannabis; legalizedmarijuana; liberaltarians; libertarians; losertarians; marijuana; medicalmarijuana; paranoia; pot; reefermadness; soma; teenagesmoking; weed; wod
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To: luv2ski

It’s no longer cool or special since grandma can go down the block and buy it.

Pot will soon be just plant with no mystery again. Something old people use for their aches and anxiety. Exactly as it was for thousands of years.

Of course it can get you “high” but so can cough syrup and benadryl. It’s lame to get high from something so mainstream that babies and grandmas use it


21 posted on 07/09/2019 9:06:02 AM PDT by varyouga
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To: luv2ski

Well, that might just be true...in Bizarro World.


22 posted on 07/09/2019 9:06:47 AM PDT by moovova
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To: C210N

Why stop there? Legalize murder.


23 posted on 07/09/2019 9:07:48 AM PDT by moovova
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To: luv2ski

It just goes to show, those who choose to smoke pot, will.

In the age of universal availability, legalization makes no difference whatsoever. Contrary to the statistically unexplained, and insignificant, drop in teen usage the authors point out.


24 posted on 07/09/2019 9:08:34 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: DouglasKC

“Colorado shows that legalization leads to skyrocketing use among youth.”

Official data from Colorado says otherwise.

They survey kids in school every 1-2 years starting the 8th grade.


25 posted on 07/09/2019 9:10:26 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: dartuser

Since 2012, 7 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Amendment_64


26 posted on 07/09/2019 9:21:20 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: occamrzr06

Just like handing out condoms reduces promiscuity.


27 posted on 07/09/2019 9:22:28 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: luv2ski

“they worry that selling pot at dispensaries will make it easy for young people to access the drug”

The easiest place in the US to get pot (where it is illegal) is a high school. Young people do not have any problem getting access to it.


28 posted on 07/09/2019 9:29:36 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: dangus

Right, those infamous pro-pot activists the Koch brothers and the National Institute of Health.


29 posted on 07/09/2019 9:33:27 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Mariner

Yep. Everybody and their mother has already tried pot in the U.S.A. They already know whether they like it or not, and the ones that like it are smoking it whether it’s legal or not. The ones that don’t like it are not likely to suddenly start smoking even if it’s available over the counter at the QVC.


30 posted on 07/09/2019 9:36:47 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: C210N

“Let’s legalize drunk driving...”

Or we could ban firearms since some people won’t use them responsibly if they are legal.

Stupid arguments are stupid even if right wingers make them.


31 posted on 07/09/2019 9:39:19 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: luv2ski

Anyone who believes this is deluded.


32 posted on 07/09/2019 9:58:14 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (Chivalry is not dead. It is a warriors code and only practiced by warriors.)
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To: Boogieman

>> Right, those infamous pro-pot activists the Koch brothers <<

Yes, the Koch brothers ARE pro-pot activists.

https://www.westword.com/marijuana/koch-brothers-criticize-trump-administration-jeff-sessions-over-legal-marijuana-10005585

https://news.kochind.com/news/2018/keep-local-marijuana-laws-from-going-up-in-smoke

https://www.potnetwork.com/news/encouraged-koch-brothers-more-republicans-support-legalizing-marijuana

https://slate.com/business/2018/01/the-weed-industry-is-well-armed-to-fight-jeff-sessions-and-congress-may-help-it.html


33 posted on 07/09/2019 10:05:44 AM PDT by dangus
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To: Mariner

Ah thanks ... I remember it was an election year ... time is going faster the older I get lol ...


34 posted on 07/09/2019 10:14:28 AM PDT by dartuser
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To: luv2ski; KC_Lion
One theory floated by the study’s authors was that teens may find it more difficult to access marijuana if drug dealers are replaced by licensed dispensaries that require proof of age, possibly contributing to the decrease.

Naturally - that's why teens have been reporting since well before any state legalized that they could get marijuana almost as easily as beer or cigarettes, even though the latter two are far more popular among adults.

Funny/sad how the FR Reefer Madness faction dismisses the facts and logic here merely because the conclusion contradicts their presuppositions.

35 posted on 07/09/2019 10:19:11 AM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: dangus

Well, you learn something new every day.


36 posted on 07/09/2019 10:25:45 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: dangus

Beware studies funded by activists.

JAMA became left wing about 2 decades ago and becomes more left wing each day.


37 posted on 07/09/2019 10:29:57 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Keep America Great! Vote for President Trump in 2020! KAGA! Keep America Great, Again!)
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To: luv2ski
The study estimates an association between legalization and teen use, not causation, meaning the study does not show conclusively that legalizing pot causes a decrease in teen use.

Also funny/sad that this sort of caveat rarely appears in articles about harms associated with marijuana.

38 posted on 07/09/2019 1:23:08 PM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: luv2ski

Legalizing pot has resulted in unwanted contact highs in people who are trying to mind their own business on city streets.


39 posted on 07/09/2019 1:27:33 PM PDT by mumblypeg
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To: thoughtomator

Yes, somehow we didn’t have too much of a problem before government decided to ban it.

Prohibition didn’t work for alcohol and it isn’t working with drugs.

Prohibition was and is a Progressive idea, not a conservative one.


40 posted on 07/09/2019 1:30:55 PM PDT by Farcesensitive
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