College students in medical marijuana states used more, but didn't perceive more risk
College students in states with medical marijuana were more likely to use marijuana than students in non-legal states, with less than 30% of all students perceiving marijuana as a health risk.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Students in medical marijuana states were significantly more likely to use marijuana compared to non-legal states (p<0.001). Less than 30% of students across all states perceived marijuana use as a health risk. Smoking and edibles were the most common consumption methods. No differences in risk perception were found between legal and non-legal states.
Key Numbers
7,105 students enrolled. <30% perceived marijuana as a health risk. Students in medical states used significantly more (p<0.001). Smoking and edibles were most common methods.
How They Did This
Secondary analysis of the RADARS System College Survey Program, surveying students in university, technical, or online schools. Students were compared by state marijuana legalization status.
Why This Research Matters
With legalization expanding, understanding whether legal status affects use patterns and risk perception among college students informs prevention efforts on campuses.
The Bigger Picture
The disconnect between increased use in legal states and unchanged risk perception suggests that legalization may normalize use without changing how students think about health risks.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional, self-reported data. Cannot determine causation. Survey methodology details limited. No distinction between recreational and medical use states. The study notes "concentrated products" but provides limited detail.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does recreational legalization further increase college use beyond medical-only states?
- ?Would campus-based education about cannabis health risks change perceptions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- <30% of students perceived marijuana as a health risk
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey but cross-sectional with limited methodological detail and self-reported data.
- Study Age:
- 2019 study.
- Original Title:
- Brief report: Characterization of marijuana use in us college students by state marijuana legalization status as reported to an online survey.
- Published In:
- The American journal on addictions, 28(4), 266-269 (2019)
- Authors:
- Wang, George Sam(15), Haynes, Colleen, Besharat, Andrea, Lait, Marie-Claire Le, Green, Jody L, Dart, Richard C, Roosevelt, Genie
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02341
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do college students use more marijuana in legal states?
This survey found significantly higher use among students in medical marijuana states compared to non-legal states, though risk perception did not differ.
Do college students think marijuana is risky?
Less than 30% of the 7,105 students surveyed perceived marijuana use as a health risk, regardless of their state's legalization status.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02341APA
Wang, George Sam; Haynes, Colleen; Besharat, Andrea; Lait, Marie-Claire Le; Green, Jody L; Dart, Richard C; Roosevelt, Genie. (2019). Brief report: Characterization of marijuana use in us college students by state marijuana legalization status as reported to an online survey.. The American journal on addictions, 28(4), 266-269. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.12870
MLA
Wang, George Sam, et al. "Brief report: Characterization of marijuana use in us college students by state marijuana legalization status as reported to an online survey.." The American journal on addictions, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.12870
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Brief report: Characterization of marijuana use in us colleg..." RTHC-02341. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/wang-2019-brief-report-characterization-of
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.