[PRESS RELEASE] Washington, D.C. — A brand new record compiled by means of the Marijuana Coverage Venture demonstrates that legalizing and regulating hashish for adults has no longer ended in larger hashish use amongst early life. In reality, knowledge that was once lately launched displays decreases in early life hashish use in 19 of the 21 states with before-and-after knowledge. The overall record is to be had right here.
“Over a decade into state-level hashish legalization, the information is unequivocal: Legalization does no longer build up early life hashish use. In reality, proof suggests the other. By way of transitioning hashish gross sales from the illicit marketplace to a regulated device with age-restricted get right of entry to, we have observed a lower in early life hashish use,” mentioned Karen O’Keefe, director of state insurance policies on the Marijuana Coverage Venture.
National, each the U.S. Facilities for Illness Keep an eye on and Prevention and the Tracking the Long term survey point out important drops in early life marijuana use between 2011 and 2023/2024, whilst part of the rustic legalized and controlled hashish for adults. Those findings problem the perception that adult-use hashish legalization is a gateway to larger early life use.
Within the two states with the oldest legalization rules, Washington and Colorado, young people’ hashish use has lowered by means of over 35% since hashish was once legalized and controlled for adults 21 and older. In Colorado in 2011 — the yr previous to legalization — 22% of prime schoolers reported the use of hashish prior to now 30 days. That determine has dropped by means of 42%, to twelve.8% in 2023, consistent with knowledge from the Colorado Wholesome Youngsters Survey. In the meantime, the Washington State Wholesome Formative years Survey displays really extensive decreases within the % of scholars reporting present marijuana in all of the 3 surveyed grades. The 2010 survey discovered 26.3% of twelfth graders used marijuana prior to now 30 days. That has lowered by means of 38% to 16.3% in 2023. Amongst tenth graders, present marijuana use dropped by means of 58% since legalization — from 20.0% in 2010 to eight.4% in 2023. Amongst eighth graders, the survey displays a 61% % drop previous 30-day use of marijuana — from 9.5% to three.7%.
