Research Team Releases to the Public the Negative Effects of Marijuana Legalization
Reuters

A recent study showed that the legalization of the use of marijuana results in the increased use of cannabis which can potentially lead to addiction for adults 26 years old and above. This study shows the negative side to the change of policy regarding marijuana legalization that has been implemented in 11 states and Washington, DC in the US. This policy is also being considered by numerous other states.

The results of the legality of the use of marijuana can be serious.

Although occasional marijuana use is not associated with substantial problems, long-term, heavy use is linked to psychological and physical health concerns, lower educational attainment, a decline in social class, rises in unemployment, and an increase in motor vehicle crashes, according to the lead author of the research Magdalena Cerdá and her team.

If marijuana legalization only provides ease in its infrequent use, then it is not a primary issue. But the possibility that legalization can result in its excessive usage and addiction, then that's when it becomes a big issue not only for the citizens as individuals, but also for the welfare of society.

Magdalena Cerdá works at New York University as a drug policy expert. She insists that the outcome of the research should not be interpreted in a way that marijuana legalization becomes a bad thing. What she emphasizes is that the US government should consider the prevention, curing of addiction, and other problematic issues involved with the use of marijuana.

"This study is in no way meant to suggest that legalization shouldn't take place. It's a separate issue altogether," said Magdalena Cerdá.

The results of the research conducted by Cerdá's team can potentially help the country effectively legalize the use of marijuana, instead of just determining the need to legalize it. This can significantly affect the large group of people who are against marijuana legalization, and those who are looking forward to its proper implementation through legalization.

The study of Magdalena Cerdá and her research team is published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal. The research had found a small increase in the use of marijuana. For adults, this is called "cannabis use disorder".

The research team also evaluated data coming from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

One of the results of the research shows the significant elevation of use of cannabis among those in the adolescent age range in the states where marijuana use is legalized, compared to those states where the use of it is illegal.

The research team suggests caution despite the small findings.

"For adolescents, I think we need to take the findings with a grain of salt. We need to track changes among adolescents over a longer period and across other states that are legalizing to see if that's really a robust finding or it's actually due to some other third factor," said Magdalena Cerdá.