Teen odds of using marijuana dip when states legalize recreational use

New research suggests legalizing recreational marijuana for U.S. adults in some states may have slightly reduced teens’ odds of using pot. One reason may be that it’s harder and costlier for teens to buy marijuana from licensed dispensaries than from dealers, said lead author Mark Anderson, a health economist at Montana State University.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The researchers analyzed national youth health and behavior surveys from 1993 through 2017
• There was no change linked with medical marijuana legislation but odds of teen use declined almost 10 percent after recreational marijuana laws were enacted
• Frequent use starting in the early teens may lower IQ scores; some kids may be more vulnerable to pots’ effects because of genetics or other factors

Click to read the full article on NBC News