Pubdate: Fri, 12 Sep 2014
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2014 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Kate Kelland
Page: L5
Cited: Young adult sequelae of adolescent cannabis use: an 
integrative analysis: http://mapinc.org/url/rD8tMDPl

TEEN TOKERS RISK OMINOUS OUTLOOK: STUDY

Teenagers who use marijuana daily run a higher risk of becoming drug 
dependent, committing suicide or trying other drugs and are less 
likely to succeed at their studies than those who avoid it, 
researchers have found.

In an analysis of studies on cannabis, the scientists said these 
long-term health and life effects were important since several 
countries are planning to relax legislation on it.

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug worldwide, despite a 
trend towards decriminalizing it in some countries.

"Our findings are particularly timely given that several U.S. states 
and countries in Latin America have made moves to decriminalize or 
legalize cannabis, raising the possibility the drug might become more 
accessible to young people," said Richard Mattick, a professor at 
Australia's National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the 
University of New South Wales, who co-led the study.

Using data from three large and long-running studies, the researchers 
found that people who smoke cannabis daily before the age of 17 are 
more than 60 per cent less likely to complete high school or obtain a 
university degree.

The meta-analysis also indicated that daily users of cannabis during 
adolescence are seven times more likely to attempt suicide, have an 
18 times greater chance of cannabis dependence, and are eight times 
as likely to use other illicit drugs in later life.

"Policy-makers need to be aware that early use of cannabis is 
associated with a range of negative outcomes for young adults that 
affect their health, wellbeing, and also their achievements," said 
Edmund Silins, also of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 
who presented the findings in a media teleconference.

Silins said any changes to marijuana legislation should be carefully 
assessed to ensure they will help reduce adolescent cannabis use.

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analyzed data 
on up to 3,765 participating cannabis users in terms of seven 
developmental outcomes up to the age of 30 years.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom