July 31, 2012 A study published in the July 2012 issue of the
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry found that diverted medical marijuana use among
adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse is very
common. Study participants from two adolescent substance abuse
treatment programs in the Denver metropolitan area were asked
questions about their medical marijuana use.121 of 164
adolescents (73.8%) reported using medical marijuana that had
been recommended for someone else, also known as diverted
medical marijuana, a median of 50 times. In the study,
adolescents who used medical marijuana began using marijuana
regularly at a younger age, and showed more marijuana
abuse/dependence and conduct disorder symptoms than adolescents
who did not use medical marijuana. Additionally, most of the
adolescents rated smoking marijuana overall as having slight or
no risk. Recent state and federal policy changes have allowed
for more widespread legalized medical marijuana use in Colorado.
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