Nguyen, Hai V and Mital, Shweta (2022) Changes in youth cannabis use after an increase in cannabis minimum legal age in Quebec, Canada. JAMA Network Open, 5, (6), e2217648. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.17648.
External website: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/f...
Question: Is there an association of the increase in cannabis minimum legal age (MLA) from 18 to 21 years in Quebec, Canada, with youth cannabis use?
Findings: In this cross-sectional study with difference-in-differences analysis of 1005 youths aged 15 to 20 years, although youth cannabis use still increased after the policy change, the increase in past-3-month cannabis use among youths aged 18 to 20 years was 51% lower in Quebec than in other provinces. There was no change in cannabis use among youths aged 15 to 17 years.
Meaning: The lower increase in cannabis use among individuals aged 18 to 20 years alleviates concerns that youths would switch to illegal markets in response to a higher MLA; however, the increase in youth cannabis use despite the higher MLA highlights the need for additional policy measures to address rising youth cannabis use.
A Substance use and dependence > Personal history of substance use (pathway) > Initiation
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Risk and protective factors
MM-MO Crime and law > Substance use laws > Drug laws
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use > Demand reduction policy
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
T Demographic characteristics > Young adult
VA Geographic area > Canada
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