Data from 11,875 children in the ABCD Study found that kids aged 9-11 living in states with recreational cannabis laws had greater cannabis knowledge and reported more alcohol experimentation, but their knowledge of other drugs was not elevated.
Parents in legal-cannabis states, policymakers evaluating the downstream effects of legalization on children, and researchers studying how drug policy affects youth.
11,875 children across 4 policy types
What the researchers found
Children in states with more permissive cannabis laws had greater knowledge of cannabis specifically, but not of alcohol, tobacco, or other illicit drugs. Children in recreational-use states also reported more alcohol experimentation. Externalizing behavior was not significantly associated with cannabis knowledge in any group. The association between externalizing behavior and illicit drug knowledge was significant only in recreational and medical states but did not differ significantly across groups.
Why it matters
The concern that cannabis legalization normalizes drug use for children is partially supported: children in legal states know more about cannabis. However, the specificity to cannabis (and not other drugs) suggests legalization increases awareness of one substance rather than broadly normalizing all drug use.
The numbers in context
11,875 children; ages 9-11; 22 US sites; 4 state policy categories; cannabis knowledge higher in permissive states; alcohol experimentation higher in recreational states; knowledge of other drugs not elevated; no association between externalizing and cannabis knowledge
How the study worked
Cross-sectional analysis of 11,875 children aged 9-11 from the ABCD Study baseline (2016-2018). Compared substance knowledge and associations with externalizing behavior across four state cannabis policy groups: recreational, medical, low THC/CBD, and no cannabis laws. Chi-square difference tests on nested models.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design captures one time point. State-level policy differences may correlate with other cultural factors. Cannabis knowledge was measured but not attitudes or intentions. Children aged 9-11 are pre-initiation for most substance use.
How to read the evidence
Large national sample from a premier cohort study, but cross-sectional and state-level policy differences may reflect other confounders.
When this study was published
Published in 2021 with 2016-2018 baseline data; cannabis policy landscape has continued to change.
The bigger picture
Greater cannabis knowledge in children is not necessarily harmful. Knowing about cannabis could reflect exposure to public health messaging alongside normalization. The lack of association between cannabis knowledge and behavioral problems suggests awareness alone does not drive problematic behavior at this age.
Questions still open
- Does childhood cannabis knowledge predict adolescent use? Is the increased alcohol experimentation in recreational states coincidental or causally related to cannabis normalization? How do parental attitudes mediate the relationship between state laws and child knowledge?
Common questions
Do kids in legal states know more about marijuana?
Does knowing about cannabis lead to problems?
Read the original research
Children's Knowledge of Cannabis and Other Substances in States with Different Cannabis Use Regulations.
Substance use & misuse, 56(14), 2126-2133
Citation
Ross, J Megan; Rieselbach, Maya M; Hewitt, John K; Banich, Marie T; Rhee, Soo Hyun. (2021). Children's Knowledge of Cannabis and Other Substances in States with Different Cannabis Use Regulations.. Substance use & misuse, 56(14), 2126-2133. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1972316
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