Among cannabis-using youth in Massachusetts, reported use of someone else's medical cannabis rose from 15% in 2013 to 44% in 2016 after medical cannabis legalization, and diverted users were more likely to drive after using.
Cannabis policy researchers; public health professionals focused on youth substance use; state legislators designing medical cannabis regulations.
15% to 44% increase in diverted medical cannabis use (2013-2016)
What the researchers found
Use of diverted medical cannabis increased from 15% in 2013 to 44% in 2016 (adjusted OR 4.66, 95% CI 1.81-11.95). Youth using diverted medical cannabis were more likely to ride with a cannabis-impaired driver or drive after cannabis use.
Why it matters
Medical cannabis diversion to youth is a major policy concern. This study provides direct evidence that access through someone else's medical supply increased substantially in the years after legalization, with associated risky behaviors.
The numbers in context
273 youth surveyed. Mean age: 18.2 years. 32% female, 58% White, 70% with college-graduate parents. Diverted use: 15% (2013) vs 44% (2016), aOR 4.66. 97.9% said cannabis was easy to obtain at baseline. 89.4% viewed occasional use as no/slight risk. Youth using diverted cannabis had higher rates of driving-related risk.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional surveys of 273 cannabis-using youth (ages 13-24) from an outpatient substance treatment program and adolescent medicine clinic in Boston from 2013 (when medical cannabis took effect) through 2016 (when recreational became legal). Multiple logistic regression analyzed changes in attitudes and behaviors.
What this study cannot tell us
The sample was drawn from clinical settings (substance treatment and adolescent medicine), so these youth were already at higher risk and may not represent the general adolescent population. Small sample sizes per year limit statistical power. Self-reported data.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: longitudinal trend data from a clinical sample with appropriate statistical controls, though limited by cross-sectional design within each year and clinical sample.
When this study was published
Published in 2022, covering data from 2013-2016.
The bigger picture
This study captures a snapshot of the transition period between medical and recreational legalization in Massachusetts. The rapid increase in diversion suggests that medical programs may inadvertently increase youth access, which is relevant for states still designing their cannabis policies.
Questions still open
- Did diversion patterns change after recreational legalization made cannabis more broadly available? Are secure storage requirements for medical cannabis effective at reducing youth diversion? Would universal legalization reduce diversion by eliminating the need to access medical supplies?
Common questions
What is diverted medical cannabis?
Did legalization make cannabis easier for youth to get?
Read the original research
Trends in cannabis-related attitudes and behaviors among cannabis-using adolescent and young adult outpatients following medical cannabis legalization in Massachusetts.
Substance abuse, 43(1), 328-335
Citation
O'Connell, Maddie; Levy, Sharon; Shrier, Lydia A; Harris, Sion K. (2022). Trends in cannabis-related attitudes and behaviors among cannabis-using adolescent and young adult outpatients following medical cannabis legalization in Massachusetts.. Substance abuse, 43(1), 328-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2021.1941517
Explore the wider topic
- Surviving 4/20 Sober: A Practical Survival Guide
- CBT for Cannabis Recovery: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
- The Cannabis Relapse Cycle: Quit, Feel Good, Get Complacent, Repeat
- Cold Turkey vs Tapering: Which Way to Quit Weed
- Dating Sober After Years of Being High: What Nobody Tells You
- Exercise as Medicine: Working Out After Quitting Weed
- Grieving Weed Itself: Mourning the Loss of a Companion
- How to Help Someone Quit Weed (When They're Not Ready)
- How to Quit Weed: A No-Judgment Step by Step Guide
- How to Talk to Your Teenager About Weed (Without Losing Them)
- Journaling Through Weed Withdrawal: Why Writing Helps You Heal
- My Kid's Friends Smoke Weed: A Parent's Guide
- MA vs SMART Recovery vs Therapy: Comparing Your Options
- Meditation and Mindfulness for Weed Withdrawal
- I Smoke Weed But Don't Want My Kids To: Navigating the Hypocrisy
- Your Partner Still Smokes Weed: How to Navigate It
- Quitting Weed While Your Partner Still Smokes
- The Pink Cloud Effect: When Quitting Weed Feels Too Good
- How to Quit Smoking Weed Cold Turkey: What to Expect
- Quit Weed or Cut Back: Which Is Right for You?
- I Quit Weed and Regret It: An Honest Look at Non-Linear Recovery
- Quitting Weed in Your 20s: Career, Social Life, Starting Over
- Quitting Weed in Your 30s: It's Not Too Late
- Quitting Weed After 10+ Years of Daily Use: What to Expect
- Quitting Weed During a Life Crisis: Divorce, Job Loss, and Other Bad Timing
- Quitting Weed and Working Out: How Exercise Helps Recovery
- Quitting Weed After Loss: When Grief Comes Flooding Back
- Quitting Weed When It's Legal Everywhere
- Quitting Weed as a Parent: Why It Is the Hardest and Most Important Quit
- Weed Withdrawal Success Stories: Real People Who Made It Through
- Quitting Weed as a Teen or Young Adult
- Quitting Weed Long Distance: When You Can't Remove Triggers
- I Relapsed on Weed. Now What? A Practical Reset Guide
- I Relapsed After Quitting Weed: What Now?
- Should I Quit Weed? A Decision Framework (Not a Lecture)
- Quitting Weed at Music Festivals and Concerts: A Sober Survival Guide
- Supplements That Actually Help with Weed Withdrawal (And Ones That Don't)
- My Kid Is Smoking Weed: A Parent's Guide
- How to Tell Your Friends You're Quitting Weed
- Relapse Prevention Plan for Cannabis: A CBT-Based Approach
- Why Weed Relapse Happens: The Science Behind Going Back
- Replacing the Ritual: What to Do When You Quit Weed
- How Cannabis Damaged My Relationships: Before and After
- Social Media Detox from Weed Content