Marijuana is the most used illicit substance globally, with roughly 90 million individuals in Europe alone having used the drug once in their lifetime. Recently, scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm conducted a study to determine whether changes in marijuana laws led to an increase in the recreational use of the herb by young adults and adolescents. They found no evidence to support the claim that the legalization of marijuana causes an increase in the use of marijuana in individuals aged 15 to 34. Critics of marijuana legalization often argue that allowing legal and free access to the drug will make it more attractive to young adults and teenagers, which they believe will automatically result in increased usage. The researchers’ objective was to address concerns around social harm that stem from marijuana legalization changes, especially since changes in cannabis legislation in Europe have been initiated in countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Malta, Spain, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Prior studies conducted on the impact of changes in marijuana laws on the prevalence of use have yielded inconclusive results.
CannabisNewsWire, 01/31/2022 16:20:00