Legalizing Marijuana: Some Studies Suggest Adolescents Won’t Be Affected

As the debate over the legalization of marijuana intensifies, a medical group in Rhode Island has concluded a study suggesting that legalization may not be as detrimental to the youth as the anti-drug groups would lead you to believe.

 “Physician/researcher and lead author Esther Choo, MD, MPH, is presenting the findings of the study today at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Choo, an emergency medicine physician with Rhode Island Hospital, and her coauthors explain that the state-level legalization of medical marijuana has raised concerns about increased accessibility and appeal of the drug to youth, who are most vulnerable to public messages about drug use and to the adverse consequences of marijuana. Their study was performed to assess the impact of medical marijuana legalization in Rhode Island in 2006. The researchers compared trends in adolescent marijuana use between Rhode Island and Massachusetts using a self-report called the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System. In their study, they included surveys completed between 1997 and 2009.

Based on their analysis of 32,570 students, they found that while marijuana use was common throughout the study period, there were no statistically significant differences in marijuana use between states in any year.”

To read this article by the GoLocalProv Health Team, click here.

 

While this debate provides some support for the legalization argument, marijuana possession is still considered a crime in Rhode Island.

If you have been arrested and charged with a marijuana related offense in Rhode Island, your first phone call should be to an experienced Rhode Island criminal defense attorney.  While the seriousness of a marijuana charge may vary depending on various circumstances, only a criminal defense attorney with a proven record of successfully defending clients against drug possession charges will be able to give a legitimate assessment of your case.

Attorney John R. Grasso is a successful Rhode Island criminal defense attorney and former police officer.  Attorney John R. Grasso’s unique experiences on both sides of law enforcement gives him an unparalleled knowledge of Rhode Island drug laws and the many ways in which your arrest and charges may be unlawful.  To give yourself the best opportunity to avoid a drug charge conviction, contact Attorney John R. Grasso immediately.