Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana Does Not Increase Marijuana Use Among Teens

A new study released by the Marijuana Policy Project reveals that once more the data is not on the side of prohibitionists. The study demonstrates in states where medicinal marijuana use is allowed the rates of teens using marijuana are actually on the decline not rising. Those opposed to medicinal marijuana laws have long used the argument that relaxing the laws on marijuana in any way encourages youth to use the herb. The full study is available at www.mpp.org/teens.

The study breaks down by state the decline in use by teens, California, which is the state which first legalized medicinal marijuana shows the sharpest decline, which makes sense considering it has the most data available. The data for California shows:

7th grade weekly: 11% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 1.9% to 1.7%)
9th grade weekly: 53% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 12.3% to 5.8%)
11th grade weekly: 38% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 16.5% to 10.2%)

7th grade past 30 days: 24% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 6.2% to 4.7%)
9th grade past 30 days: 47% decrease since late 1995/ early 1996 (from 23.6% to 12.6%)
11th grade past 30 days: 26% decrease since late 1995/ early 1996 (from 25.9% to 19.2%)

7th grade past six months: 33% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 10.9% to 7.3%)
9th grade past six months: 45% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 34.2% to 18.7%)
11th grade past six months: 30% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 42.8% to 29.8%)

7th grade lifetime: 28% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 10.9% to 7.9%)
9th grade lifetime: 36% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 35.0% to 22.3%)
11th grade lifetime: 19% decrease since late 1995/early 1996 (from 46.9% to 38.2%)

Obviously this study demonstrates again that prohibition serves no useful purpose, relaxing laws does not lead to increased usage.