What Clinicians Need to Know About Adolescents and Cannabis
A clinical review examined the evidence on adolescent cannabis use, covering both risks and evolving legal frameworks as more states moved toward legalization.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This review addressed the growing tension between expanding cannabis legalization and concerns about adolescent use. As of late 2015, 23 states and DC had legalized medical cannabis, and 4 states plus DC had legalized recreational use for adults.
The review examined a range of issues relevant to the adolescent cannabis debate, including the changing potency and forms of cannabis products, the distinction between medical and recreational use frameworks, and the clinical evidence regarding effects on the developing brain.
Key Numbers
As of November 2015: 23 states and DC had legalized medical cannabis. 4 states and DC had legalized recreational use for adults 21 and older.
How They Did This
This was a clinical review article published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, synthesizing current evidence on adolescent cannabis use across multiple domains.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization continues to expand, clinicians who work with adolescents need up-to-date information about both risks and policy context. This review provided a framework for navigating these conversations.
The Bigger Picture
The legalization landscape has continued to evolve rapidly since this review, with many more states legalizing both medical and recreational cannabis. The questions about adolescent impacts remain central to ongoing policy debates.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The abstract provided limited detail about specific findings. As a review, it synthesized existing evidence rather than presenting new data. The rapid pace of policy change means the legal framework described was quickly outdated.
Questions This Raises
- ?Has adolescent cannabis use increased in states that legalized recreational use?
- ?How should school-based prevention programs adapt to a changing legal landscape?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 23 states plus DC had legalized medical cannabis by late 2015
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a clinical review article synthesizing existing evidence. It provides a useful overview but does not present new research data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016. The legalization landscape has changed dramatically since, with many more states legalizing cannabis.
- Original Title:
- Weeding Out the Truth: Adolescents and Cannabis.
- Published In:
- Journal of addiction medicine, 10(2), 75-82 (2016)
- Authors:
- Ammerman, Seth(2), Tau, Gregory
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01091
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Has legalization led to more teen cannabis use?
Research since this review has produced mixed results. Some studies show no significant increase in adolescent use rates in states that legalized recreational cannabis, while others show modest changes. Monitoring trends remains an active area of research.
Is cannabis more dangerous for teens than adults?
Research generally suggests that the developing adolescent brain may be more vulnerable to some effects of cannabis, particularly regarding cognition and mental health risk. However, the magnitude and permanence of these effects remain debated.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01091APA
Ammerman, Seth; Tau, Gregory. (2016). Weeding Out the Truth: Adolescents and Cannabis.. Journal of addiction medicine, 10(2), 75-82. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000199
MLA
Ammerman, Seth, et al. "Weeding Out the Truth: Adolescents and Cannabis.." Journal of addiction medicine, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000199
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Weeding Out the Truth: Adolescents and Cannabis." RTHC-01091. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ammerman-2016-weeding-out-the-truth
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.