Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Prevalence of Cannabis Use in Youths After Legalization in Washington StateIn November 2012, voters in Washington legalized nonmedical (retail) cannabis for people aged 21 and older.Markets opened in July 2014.The effect of this change on cannabis use among youths is of public health concern.Cerdá et al 1 analyzed data from the nationally representative Monitoring the Future survey (MTF) and used differencein-differences methods to compare cannabis use prevalence trends among youths in Washington with use in states without legalization of recreational marijuana.Because the MTF is not designed to provide state-representative estimates, the article generated covariate-adjusted modeled prevalence estimates for each state.The article suggested complex association between legalization and cannabis use among youths: increases in prevalence among Washington 8th and 10th graders, but not among 12th graders, relative to use in states without legalization of recreational marijuana.The authors noted that, "the sample design may lead to discrepancies between MTF results and those found in other large-scale surveillance efforts."1(p148) The purpose of the present study was to assess whether trends in cannabis use prevalence among youths from Washington's state-based youth survey are consistent with findings from the MTF.
Authors: Julia A. Dilley, Susan M. Richardson, Beau Kilmer, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Mary B. Segawa, Magdalena Cerdá
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G3517876484, G5025133199
OpenAlex ID: W2903764796