Press Release: Marijuana Use Among Teens Still Lower Than in 2012
For Immediate Release: December 17th, 2018
Contact: Mikayla Hellwich
Mikayla@LawEnforcementAction.org
Marijuana Use Among Teens Still Lower Than in 2012
Police Group Reacts to New Federal Survey Data
Today, data from the federally-funded Monitoring the Future Survey revealed that adolescent marijuana use remains at lower rates than in 2012 when Colorado and Washington first legalized the drug for adult-use. Since then, eight more states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for adult-use.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse, in partnership with researchers at the University of Michigan, found that in 2018, the percentages of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders who had consumed marijuana in the last 30 days had declined compared to 2012 numbers. The rates of daily, annual, and lifetime use are also lower this year.
Below is a quote from the Law Enforcement Action Partnership’s executive director, Police Major Neill Franklin (Ret.):
“While the full effects of marijuana legalization will take more time to study, it’s pretty clear legalization isn’t causing a wave of use among our children. As a father and career narcotics officer, this is basic common sense — if we put the drug behind a counter and require proof of age to enter the building, teens will have a harder time getting their hands on it. As more states legalize and we continue to have more honest conversations with young people about marijuana, I believe this trend will continue.”
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