August 23, 2018

Survey: Cannabis Use Down Among Teenagers in California After Legalization

August 23, 2018
Survey: Cannabis Use Down Among Teenagers in California After Legalization

The California Healthy Kids Survey study found that cannabis use among junior high and high school students is down across all age levels in California. This was the first survey of teen drug consumption conducted since legalized recreational cannabis took effect in California on Jan. 1, 2018

The research, funded by the state’s health and education department, noted that 4.2 percent of 7th graders reported that they had used cannabis at any time between 2015 and 2017. That figure represents a 47 percent drop from the last survey when 7.9 percent of 7th graders had said they used marijuana from 2013 to 2015.

Among 9th graders, 17.4 percent reported that they had used cannabis at some time during 2015 to 2017, which is a 25 percent decline noted in the previous study.

Eleventh graders also showed a reduction in cannabis use from the last survey when nearly 40 percent said they had consumed weed between 2013 and 2015. This year’s result – for 2015 to 2017 – recorded a 16 percent decline with 31.9 percent claiming cannabis use.

Alcohol and other drug use have also been on steady downward trend since at least 2011, according to the survey. Recreational use of marijuana after voters’ approval in 2016 didn’t interrupt that decline, nor did the growth of the medical cannabis market in the preceding years.

Medical cannabis use has been widespread since it was legalized in 1996, therefore the new study did not take into account any potential effect from legal recreational marijuana.

The survey’s authors wrote that the declining trend to use cannabis among teenagers following legalization warranted attention.

It seems that the survey indeed provided evidence that the legalization of recreational cannabis does not encourage more teenagers to consume it.

The kids are alright.

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