Young Adults Used Less Tobacco And Alcohol After Cannabis Legalization
- A study found that cannabis legalization in California led to a decrease in tobacco and alcohol use among young adults.
- The study contradicts the belief that cannabis is a gateway drug that leads to increased use of other substances.
- Researchers analyzed data from two cohorts of 18-20 year old cannabis users in California before and after recreational cannabis became legal in 2016.
- The findings suggest that cannabis legalization may actually lead to reduced consumption of substances with well-established health risks.
A recent study found that cannabis legalization in California lowered the use of tobacco and alcohol for young adults, aged 18-20. Opponents of legalization have often warned of a “gateway drug” effect, where cannabis use is believed to lead to increased use of other drugs. Researchers still disagree on whether cannabis should be considered a “gateway drug.” But this recent study suggested that cannabis legalization actually led young adults to use less of these commonly consumed substances with well-established health risks.
The researchers, from Drexel University and The University of Southern California, looked at data from California’s transition to legal recreational cannabis in 2016. Before 2016, only medical cannabis was legal in the state. To determine the effect this had on young adult consumption patterns, researchers analyzed data from two cohorts of 18-20 year old cannabis users – including both those enrolled as a medical cannabis patient and those who were not. One group included 172 young cannabis users who were followed from 2014-2015.
– Read the entire article at Forbes.