A study out of USC has found that most teenagers who have tried marijuana have used it in various forms.
The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, has concluded that most teens who habe tried marijuana have used the drug in more than one form, including cannabis products that are smoked, eaten or vaped.
“Cannabis use in adolescence increases risk for chronic use throughout adulthood, addiction and impaired cognitive development,” stated Adam Leventhan, the study’s senior author. Leventhal is a professor of preventive medicine and psychology and director of the USC Health, Emotion and Addiction Laboratory at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
“In recent years, there’s been a shift in teens’ perception. Legalization and commercialization of cannabis are fostering the perception that this drug is not harmful,” Leventhal explained. “On my drive to work, I pass an advertising billboard for marijuana delivery right to your house. Marijuana has gone mainstream.”
The researchers had surveyed 3,177 10th graders in the Los Angeles area which was collected via questionnaires at 10 Los Angeles area high schools from January to October of 2015.
“A key question is whether a new pool of teens who’ve traditionally been at lower risk for smoking marijuana have been drawn to using the drug in these alternative non-smoked forms,” said Leventhal.
This study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01-DA033296).
