New Federal Study On Legal Cannabis Shows No Increase In Teen Use
The legalization of marijuana at the state level does not lead to increased use of cannabis by teens, according to a new article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The study examined data from three longitudinal studies on previous-year marijuana consumption and use frequency among adolescents between 1999 and 2020 in Oregon, Washington and New York.
Adult-use cannabis was legalized in Washington in 2012, followed by Oregon in 2014. In addition, New York made marijuana legal for adult recreational consumption this past year.
The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), revealed that “youth who spent more of their adolescence under legalization were no more or less likely to have used cannabis at age 15 years than adolescents who spent little or no time under legalization.”
This most recent analysis is just another example from an already substantial body of scientific findings that have established that regulated marijuana markets have either a neutral effect on use among teens or even a decline in consumption.
The article concludes, “Taken together with previous studies, these findings add weight to the conclusion that adolescent cannabis use is holding steady in the wake of legalization, at least in the years relatively proximate to the policy change.”
"Taken together with previous studies, these findings add weight to the conclusion that adolescent cannabis use is holding steady in the wake of legalization, at least in the years relatively proximate to the policy change.”
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine
It is still too soon to unequivocally assert that the legalization of recreational cannabis definitively does not negatively impact use among adolescents. After all, as the article points out, studies related to the use of alcohol among teens following the end of Prohibition did show a steady increase over the intervening 40 years.
However, researchers are optimistic concerning the findings. As more states continue to legalize marijuana, additional research will hopefully provide further clarity on the lasting impact of the plant that could top $100 Billion in annual revenue by 2032.
UK Regulators Ban Charlotte’s Web And Other CBD Products
Over 100 CBD-infused products, including three CBD oil extractions manufactured by the Charlotte’s Web label, have been taken off store shelves in the United Kingdom due to consumer fears over safety, according to a recent news report.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) removed the items from a list of more than 12,000 accepted for review this year as part of the agency’s regimen of products up for approval as new or “novel” foods in the country.
Britain significantly lags behind the United States and Europe concerning legalizing adult-use cannabis for its citizens. However, it is currently in the midst of a substantial CBD boom, with a market valued at close to $1 billion.
Because of this massive demand for the non-intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid, the country has been inundated with a flood of largely unregulated CBD products. As a result, those companies hoping to sell their products in the island nation legally must now receive governmental approval.
The agency did not provide specific reasons for removing the roughly 100 products, including the three CW offerings. However, in a statement, a spokesperson for the FSA shared, “We don’t release information on why individual products are removed from the list, but removal can be due to various reasons, for example: at the request of the applicant, to remove duplicates, or because they do not comply with other aspects of food law.”
"We don’t release information on why individual products are removed from the list, but removal can be due to various reasons, for example: at the request of the applicant, to remove duplicates, or because they do not comply with other aspects of food law.”
- Spokesperson, Food Standards Agency (UK)
Regardless of the reasoning, the action appears to be one of caution and prudence. Nevertheless, considering the small number of items chosen for removal, it could just be a necessary growing pain for an otherwise exciting and welcoming market for CBD and, hopefully, more legal cannabis products very soon.