The joints smoked in adolescents did not increase where cannabis was legalized for medical purposes.

It was reported by a study of researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and on the Prevention Science pages, in fact show that the recreational use of this substance has not increased in countries where medical marijuana has been legalized, and then only for some citizens. These results, which according to the researchers should appease, at least in part, the public and government concern that the legalization of medical marijuana may encourage teenagers to the use of this substance.

In fact, the concern would be not entirely unfounded: for some time, many studies have shown the negative effects of the substance on the development of the adolescent brain. For example, a study by the Max Planck Institute, appeared a little less than a month ago in the journal Scientific American, and presented at the World Congress of the World Psychiatric Association highlighted the very side effects related to the use of cannabis by adolescents: second researchers suspect is that it can increase the risk of psychosis. According to the study, in fact, subjects with a history of cannabis use before the age of 18, tend to develop the symptoms of schizophrenia about 10 years before the others. That said, governments should continuously monitor and take into account the potential effect that legalization may have on the use of this drug in young people.

To do so, the research team analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which included information between 2004 and 2013. Considering how the legalization of medical cannabis can affect the recreational use of this drug, the results It showed that for young people aged between 12 and 25 years, the use of cannabis (either a regular or occasional) is not increased after the legalization of that for therapeutic purposes.

In addition, the study did not show any significant change in the recreational use of cannabis for any age group, with the exception of a statistically significant increase in its use by adults, especially men, 26 years of age or older: in countries that had legalized medical marijuana, cannabis use by men increased from 7% to almost 9%, while for women from around 3% to over 4%, after the legalization of the substance.

In fact, as we reported last May, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment of 2016, the use of the drug appeared to be down compared to 2012 for teenagers (aged 12 to 17 years), regardless therefore from that was legal in their country. Instead, the rate of marijuana use among adults aged between 18 and 34 is the highest since 1985. However, their use in this age group has steadily increased over several decades, so much so that scientists do not attach no cause-effect relationship between this increase and a greater access due to the legalization of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

From Wired