Testing Medical Marijuana's Unintended Consequences for Youth and Young Adults

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究响应NIDA的PA-08-124资助机会公告，该公告呼吁研究法律、法规和政策对药物使用流行病学的影响。我们提出了一项系列横断面研究，以确定医用大麻法律对青少年和年轻人的毒品相关态度，消费和问题的影响。我们将结合9年的美国全国调查数据和对各州法律通过和特征的原始数据收集。自1996年以来，已有17个州通过了将医用大麻合法化的法律。另外六个州目前正在考虑。医用大麻旨在帮助患者应对伴随严重疾病的慢性疼痛和食欲不振。然而，这可能会给年轻人带来意想不到的后果。这样的政策可能会在不经意间向年轻人“传递错误的信息”，让他们认识到吸毒的风险。如果监管不力和执行不力，医用大麻法律可能会增加非法大麻的获取途径，并降低其价格。我们建议进行一项为期9年的国家级前瞻性调查，以研究州MM法律的通过与青少年（12-17岁）和年轻人（18-25岁）的毒品相关结果之间的关系。我们将使用计量经济学方法来比较居住在有医用大麻法律的州的年轻人群体中与毒品有关的态度和行为的变化，以非医用大麻州为对照组。我们将利用2002年至2010年期间全国药物使用和健康调查（NSDUH）的九次年度浪潮，并辅以各州医用大麻法律的原始数据收集。建议的具体目标是：确定州MM法律的通过是否与青少年和年轻人对大麻的风险、社会可接受性和可获得性的看法变化有关。具体目标2。确定MM法律的通过是否与大麻使用率的变化和年轻人的问题，以及大麻的经济替代品/补充物（如酒精和烟草）的使用有关。具体目标3。检查各州MM法律的特征和实施差异是否与年轻人与毒品有关的态度和行为有关。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This study responds to NIDA's PA-08-124 Funding Opportunity Announcement calling for research on the effects of laws, regulations and policies on the epidemiology of drug use. We propose a serial cross-sectional study to identify the impact of medical marijuana laws on drug-related attitudes, consumption and problems among adolescents and young adults. We will combine nine years of US national survey data with original data collection on the passage and characteristics of state laws. Since 1996, 17 states have passed laws that decriminalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes. Another six states are currently deliberating. Medical marijuana is intended to help patients cope with chronic pain and loss of appetite accompanying serious illness. It could, however, have unintended consequences for young people. Such policies could inadvertently "send the wrong message" to young people about the risks of using drugs. If poorly regulated and enforced, medical marijuana laws could increase access to illicit cannabis and drive down its price. We propose a nine-year, state-level prospective investigation of the relationships between passage of state MM laws and drug-related outcomes among youth (12-17 years of age) and young adults (18-25 years). We will use econometric methods to compare changes in drug-related attitudes and behaviors across populations of young people residing in states with medical marijuana laws, using non-medical marijuana states as a control group. We will draw on nine annual waves of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), from 2002-10, augmented with original data collection on state medical marijuana laws. Proposed specific aims are: Specific Aim 1. To identify whether passage of state MM laws is associated with changing perceptions about the risks, social acceptability and availability of marijuana in populations of adolescents and young adults. Specific Aim 2. To determine whether passage of MM laws is associated with changing rates of marijuana use and problems in young people, as well as the use of economic substitutes/compliments for cannabis, such as alcohol and tobacco. Specific Aim 3. To examine whether variation across states in the characteristics and implementation of MM laws is associated with drug-related attitudes and behaviors in young people. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This research will generate policy-relevant knowledge about the potential for medical marijuana policies to have unintended consequences for adolescents and young adults. Young people constitute a vulnerable population because they are still shaping lifelong views on substance use, and because earlier age at first use puts people at higher risk for acquiring substance use disorders later in life. Study findings will inform current decision-making by state policymakers weighing the benefits and costs of medical marijuana laws for different population groups.