Myth: Cannabis is a gateway drug to substance abuse
Cannabis & Youth
Fact:
The truth is not as simple as the Gateway Theory suggests. Many factors can contribute to, or predict, a person’s drug abuse. The Gateway Theory has been debunked by several studies, including an analysis by the US Department of Justice in 2018 which states “No causal link between cannabis use and the use of other illicit drugs can be claimed at this time.” While it may be true that the majority of those who use opiates and other dangerous drugs have also consumed marijuana at some point, you can make the same claim about alcohol, caffeine, and milk, among any other common substances. So while you can observe a correlation, it doesn’t make cannabis the cause. According to the CDC, cannabis is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the country, and if the Gateway Theory rang true, this would be reflected in cannabis consumers who have tried “harder” drugs, but evidence overwhelmingly shows that cannabis users do not report the use of harder substances.
Source:
Myth: Adolescents are easily able to bypass compliance and obtain cannabis in legal markets
Fact:
Legal cannabis dispensaries work incredibly hard to ensure that they do not accept fraudulent identification for purchases. Budtenders go through extensive training, and know the importance of their role in ensuring that no products are purchased by minors. In addition to the identification verification completed at dispensaries, the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division conducts compliance checks and publishes data regarding dispensary compliance annually. According to MED reports, Colorado dispensaries have consistently maintained over a 98% rate of compliance. A final consideration is that legal, licensed retail facilities will always request and verify identification, drug dealers who aren’t associated with the legal market do not verify the age of customers.
Sources:
Colorado Department of Revenue: MED Updates
Myth: Legalization will lead to increases in teen drug use
Fact:
Prior to any legal cannabis markets becoming available to Americans, youth consumption of cannabis has been studied since 1990 through the CDC Youth Behavioral Risks Surveillance Survey, and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Youth cannabis consumption is also studied at the state level in states that have legal cannabis markets. According to the data, youth consumption in states with legal cannabis markets did not increase as a result of legal cannabis market implementation. Furthermore, it was recently published that in the 5 years following the implementation of medical marijuana laws, there was no significant increase adolescent and young adult disruption of life quality due to cannabis use disorder which was measured using the metric Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY).
Sources:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Dashboard
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Surge of teen vaping levels off, but remains high as of early 2020
Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
JAMA Pediatrics
Long-Term Impact of Medical Marijuana Laws on the Burden of Cannabis Use Disorders in US Male and Female Adolescents and Young Adults
Cannabis & Crime
Cannabis & Crime
We’re breaking down some of the most persistent myths about cannabis and its association with crime, and giving you the real facts backed by peer-reviewed studies and educational information.
Cannabis & Mental Health
Cannabis & Mental Health
We’re breaking down some of the most persistent myths about cannabis use and its impact on mental health, and giving you the real facts backed by peer-reviewed studies and educational information.