When Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012, it inevitably raised concerns of teenage abuse if the stuff was placed within touching distance. Would it result in long-term addictions and affect school performance? If that happened, legalization would have to be undone.
The recent Healthy Kids Colorado Survey indicates that teenage use of marijuana remains the same as the national average in America. Reassuring news indeed! The question of repealing Amendment 64 thus does not arise. Legalization remains, for better or worse, better probably. The survey reveals drug and alcohol consumption patterns in 2015 during the second year of pot sale in retail shops when 16,000 high school kids were questioned.
Conclusions reached indicate that marijuana use remains unchanged since 2013 with 80% of Colorado senior school students being free from marijuana consumption during the previous 30 days. In a 2011 survey, a slight decrease in marijuana consumption was reported. The statistics lead to the fact that legal medical marijuana did not bring about a rise among high school students.
According to the same students, marijuana was easily obtained, but more of them are into alcohol. The medical marijuana legalization apparently made the stuff easier to lay hands on but did not lead to abuse. The authorities and parents can heave a mighty sigh of relief.
Monitoring the Future survey
A 2016 study of substance abuse and attitudes among American high school children confirms that marijuana is not preferred unlike alcohol and tobacco besides other illegal drugs that are being consumed less over the last few years. Synthetic drugs and prescription drug use are also on the descending track. Rather, e-cigarettes are being used more often while marijuana is no longer considered the evil it was once supposed to be. Consumption of banned substances like heroin and cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and metamphetamines, and hallucinogens among several others also record lower consumption levels since MTF was launched.
Among 12th graders, 23.6% reported the use of illegal drugs during 2015. Alcohol use refers to 58.2%, while marijuana/hashish was indicated in 34.9%. Smoking tobacco in various forms was done by over 35%. Amphetamines and Adderall were used by about 7% each. Synthetic cannabinoids were used by about 5%. Snus users ranged around 6%, while over 5% abused heroin. Opioid misuse is declining. Most 12th graders disapprove of taking heroin. While 6% of 12th grade students indulge in marijuana daily, about 70% of the group do not endorse daily use. During the past month of the survey date, consumption of marijuana was more common than cigarette smoking.
