A peer-reviewed study has revealed that teen cannabis use rises steadily amongst California adolescents since the state legalised adult-use cannabis retailers in 2018.
The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, analysed data from over 370,000 California teens through the California Healthy Kids Survey between 2015 and 2022.
Researchers found that daily or near-daily teen cannabis use amongst 11th graders was declining before legalisation. After 2018, this trend reversed and began climbing steadily until 2020.
Local policy impacts teen cannabis use
The study, co-authored by researchers from UC Irvine, UCLA and the Public Health Institute, examined how local cannabis policies affected youth consumption patterns.
Jurisdictions that banned retail cannabis sales consistently saw lower rates of teen cannabis use both before and after legalisation. In contrast, areas that newly permitted storefront sales maintained higher usage rates.
The research also highlighted concerns about increasing cannabis potency. As teen cannabis use rises, it has coincided with the sale of highly concentrated products like vapes and wax, which carry greater risks of dependency and potential psychosis.
The findings suggest that whilst California legalised cannabis for adults aged 21 and over, local policies play a crucial role in protecting young people from increased exposure and use.
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