The more permissive a state is with its laws governing the use of marijuana the higher its levels of mental health problems in teens, a new study claims.
States that have legalized pot and have a greater access to it are not doing their citizens any favors, if this new study can be believed.
The Drug Free America Foundation authored the new study which claims to find “an association between adolescent cannabis use, the use of high potency cannabis products, and increased risk of psychosis.”
The study also finds that states that have loosened restrictions have seen more teens developing mental health issues.
Per Just the News:
The study, also commissioned by the group Johnny’s Ambassadors, said that states that have loosened restrictions on marijuana have seen more use among teens as well as declining mental health.
“A difference-in-means test demonstrates that cannabis use is higher among all age groups in more highly permissive states, with 47 percent more monthly cannabis use among adolescents (ages 12-17) and 81 percent more monthly cannabis use among young adults (ages 18-25) in US states with fully legalized recreational cannabis programs than states where cannabis use has not been legalized,” the report said. “While cannabis use grew, subsequent raises in mean averages for major depressive events, severe mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts all increased in more highly permissive US states.”
While causation is not necessarily proven by the study, the researchers are calling for a deeper look into this apparently corollary relationship.
“The research results presented in this study demonstrate that for each one percent increase in overall monthly cannabis use, self-reported major depression increased by 0.45 percent for adolescents and 0.21 percent for young adults,” the report said. “For every one percent increase in overall monthly cannabis use by young adults, severe mental illnesses increased by 0.12 percent and suicidal thoughts increased by 0.11 percent. Panel regression models included control variables for gender, marital status, educational attainment, veteran status, unemployment status, race, and ethnicity.”
Just the News has much more, but the study needs to be a focus of discussion.
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