Adolescent Cannabis Use After Cannabis Legalization and the COVID-19 Pandemic - Takeaways - MDSpire

Adolescent Cannabis Use After Cannabis Legalization and the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • By

  • Kelly C. Young-Wolff

  • Natalie E. Slama

  • Rosalie Liccardo Pacula

  • Alisa A. Padon

  • Lynn D. Silver

  • Stacy A. Sterling

  • Derek D. Satre

  • Cynthia I. Campbell

  • Monique B. Does

  • Stacey E. Alexeeff

  • April 17, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among US adolescents, linked to various adverse health outcomes.

  • 2

    Recreational cannabis legalization may influence adolescent use through normalization, access, and marketing, despite a national decline in use.

  • 3

    The COVID-19 pandemic has led to mixed findings regarding its impact on adolescent cannabis use, with some studies reporting declines and others reporting increases.

  • 4

    California's legalization of recreational cannabis in 2016 provides a unique opportunity to study changes in adolescent cannabis use over time.

  • 5

    This study utilizes 14 years of data from a large health care system to explore the effects of cannabis legalization and the pandemic on adolescent use.

Original Source(s)

Adolescent Cannabis Use After Cannabis Legalization and the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • by Kelly C. Young-Wolff, Natalie E. Slama, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Alisa A. Padon, Lynn D. Silver, Stacy A. Sterling, Derek D. Satre, Cynthia I. Campbell, Monique B. Does, Stacey E. Alexeeff

  • April 17, 2026

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