Minors and the legality of cannabis

Minors and the legality of cannabis is an important topic around the world because there are many concerns about cannabis effecting adolescents and minors in negative ways. One example of why people find cannabis use among adolescents bad is because they are at a far greater risk of becoming dependent on cannabis.[1] This is one of many reasons of why many different countries regulate cannabis differently, but still maintain a strict regulation on cannabis use among minors. The interactions that minors tend to have with cannabis is dependent on their location. Their location can also shape their perspective on cannabis, which can influence their usage of cannabis.

Master at Arms 2nd Class Aaron M. Hendrickson, Naples area Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer, follows along with Justin Goldacker as they work to complete a lesson in the DARE workbook.

Cannabis has many purposes, including medicinal, but the general public has started showing an interested in the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis within different countries such as the United States, Uruguay, and the Netherlands. The cannabis laws within these specific countries influence the way in which minors interact with cannabis. Juvenile cannabis use tends to be higher in locations that passed or plan to pass a medical cannabis law.[2] The importance of this is that a minor’s location determines the minor’s knowledge and familiarity with cannabis among other drugs.

In the United States, where cannabis is not legal on the federal level, states still have the opportunity to legalize cannabis for recreational and/or medical use if they want. There are currently 23 states and Washington DC that have legalized some kind of medical cannabis law and four states that legalized cannabis for recreational use for individuals that are at least 21 years old. In 2014, all aspects of cannabis have been legalized in the country of Uruguay. This means the sale, production, and consumption is legal for those that are at least 18 years old.[3] While this was passed in Uruguay in an attempt to reduce crime and the drug cartel, many individuals strongly oppose the legalization of cannabis. In the Netherlands, all drugs are technically illegal, but the government created a policy that tends to tolerate cannabis under strict conditions. Individuals that are 18 years old and older can smoke cannabis within a certain space known as a “coffeeshop".

Health and cannabis among minors

Countries tend to regulate cannabis differently depending on the way in which they view cannabis and its potential effects on individuals, including minors. One reason that individuals are concerned about the use among minors is because of the higher chance of dependency that studies have shown. Epidemologisists have found that 9% of people who begin smoking marijuana at 19 years or older satisfy the criteria of dependency and this number triples at ages under 18 years old.[1] The reason for this is that a minor's brain is under rapid development when they are young. Studies have also shown that anxiety and depressive disorders have been the product of cannabis use and exposure among minors.[1]

Medical cannabis is used for children with severe illnesses such as cancer and epilepsy. The use of cannabis relieves the pain and is seen as a “healthier” alternative because it is less addictive than drugs such as morphine and Oxycontin.[4] Other pain-relieving medicines that are opioids tend to cause nausea and vomiting, while cannabis reduces these side effects. Because of this, many advocates argue that if opioids are acceptable to treat a minor’s pain, then cannabis should be as well.[4] As cannabis consumption among minors has increased, the rate at which they consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes has decreased dramatically.[5]

In the United States

The United States is going through a change in relation to cannabis as we have seen that as of 2015 almost half of the United States has some form of medical cannabis policy and more states are making an effort towards legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes.[6] It has been classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means that it is classified as having a high potential for abuse and it has no medical use.

Medical use

While possession and sale of the drug are illegal at the federal level, it is legal at the state level for several states including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. There are 23 states in the United States, and Washington, D.C., that find cannabis to have some kind of medical benefit. These states have created policies making medical cannabis legal despite its being classified as a schedule 1 drug in the United States.

Medical cannabis dispensary

There are many things that go into the consideration of medical cannabis and how it can be applied to individuals. Medical cannabis is typically used for those that are suffering from painful long-term illnesses such as epilepsy, AIDS, and cancer. Very young children can be prescribed medical cannabis because of the severity of their illness. Also, no age requirement or age limit exists in regards to medical cannabis because it serves as a medical purpose, which is to ensure that individuals are no longer suffering from the illness. In terms of youth, medical cannabis is extremely helpful for those that do have severe epilepsy and painful illnesses. It is a pain reliever and many parents advocate for medical cannabis because it is safer than other pain killers.[4] Minors are able to apply for a medical cannabis identification card, which will give them access to cannabis in medical cannabis dispensaries.

Recreational use

In states where the drug is completely legalized, there is an age requirement. The current age requirement for possessing cannabis is 21. The drug has the same kind of age restrictions as alcohol. One reason for this is because while the legalization of cannabis is fairly new, it is not likely that the restrictions would be more lenient than the ones that are tied to alcohol. Although the legal age of cannabis consumption is 21, youth in the United States are still in possession of the drug. While there is a legal market, a black market is still in place, thus giving youth the opportunity to purchase the drug illegally.

Effects on minors

About 40% of students nationwide reported using cannabis at least once.[7] The use of cannabis was about 5% higher in male students than it is in female students. About half of youth (12 to 17 years old) considered it easy to obtain cannabis among other drugs.[7]

Teens perceptions of the risks of cannabis have steadily decreased over the past decade because of the ongoing debate about legalizing cannabis.[8] Other instances have occurred where these laws have greatly influenced the way in which individuals use and are familiar with cannabis. For example, evidence has shown how cannabis use among youth is consistently higher in states that have passed medical cannabis laws compared to states that did not pass a medical cannabis law.[2] The passage of such laws influences a youth’s knowledge and familiarity with the drug. But evidence has also shown that after the legalization of cannabis was put in place, there was not an increase in teen usage.[9] Despite the accessibility to the drug, the teens still have an understanding about what is deemed as right and wrong within society. These social pressures often prevent, or promote, the use of the drug.

As a result of cannabis use within the United States, several studies have linked heavy cannabis use to lower income and a greater chance of unemployment. [10] Heavy cannabis users reported being affected negatively by their consistent use. Throughout studies, it has shown that many individuals feel as though cannabis has affected their social lives and physical and mental health negatively in the long run.[10] Cannabis use among adolescents has steadily increased as more and more states enact various laws that have to do with decriminalization.[11] A national study of about 6,000 high school seniors prior to legalization found that about 10% of nonusers said they would try cannabis if the drug were legal in their state. Among those that already use, 18% said they would use more under legalization.[11] In terms of addiction, 70–72% of 12–17-year-olds who enter drug treatment do so because of an addiction to cannabis.[11] There is currently no movement towards the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis for minors except for medical purposes.

Uruguay

Legality

Uruguay legalized cannabis in 2014. Uruguay is the first nation in the world to regulate all aspects of the cannabis market (production, sales, and consumption) for those that are at least 18 years old.[3] The reason for its proposed legalization was to get rid of the organized crime and violence that came along with the illegal drug industry. Their efforts to legalize the drug were not done because of social pressure, but more so out of the efforts to protect society from the dangers that are produced from an illegal market. Uruguay’s government wanted to seize the market from criminals, not encourage individuals to smoke cannabis. The law that was put into place states that an individual can have up to six plants at their home, cannabis will be sold over the counter, buyers must sign up for a registry that permits the purchase of cannabis, and there is a 40-gram cap per month.[12]

Oppositions

Despite cannabis being legalized in Uruguay, over 60 percent of people in the country believe legalization should be repealed.[3] Many individuals are doubtful that the legalization of cannabis will get rid of criminal organizations, such as the drug cartel. While criminal groups will not be able to compete with the legalized cannabis costs, they will be able to fall back on other activities such as trafficking and selling harder drugs, which can lead to larger crime.[13] Because the purpose of legalization is for public health and safety reasons, publicity or advertising is against the law. Any kind of publicity of cannabis is prohibited, meaning there cannot be any billboards or advertisements for the drug.[14] Because of the strong opposition of legalization within Uruguay, there is no movement towards legalization of cannabis for minors.

Effects on minors

Despite the skepticism within society, data has shown that among regular consumers, young individuals are most likely to be the one’s consuming cannabis. The age in which one can possess and consume cannabis is 18. In comparison to the United States, this is three years younger. The cannabis consumption age in Uruguay is a reflection of the drinking age, because the legal drinking age in Uruguay is 18 years old as well. Like the United States, Uruguay applied the same kind of restrictions to cannabis as they did to alcohol.

After the legalization had passed within Uruguay, there was an increase in secondary school students’ prevalence with the drug. In 2003, 8.4% of students had consumed marijuana during the previous twelve months, and in 2014, 17% had.[15] The typical user at this age was much more likely to be male than female. There are many concerns about this increase in cannabis use, which is why new prevention strategies are being suggested, such as drug education courses.[14]

The Netherlands

Legality

All drugs, including cannabis, are technically illegal in the Netherlands.[16] This means it is illegal to produce, possess, and sell the drugs. Dutch police conduct about 5,000 marijuana raids annually throughout the country.[17] But the government designed a drug policy that tolerates cannabis use under strict conditions for those that are at least 18 years old.

Coffeeshops are establishments in the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis for personal consumption by the public is tolerated by the local authorities.

Coffee shops

The only places individuals can really smoke cannabis is within "coffeeshops". In these coffeeshops, they sell cannabis, which is considered to be Soft drugs in comparison to Hard drugs, which are drugs such as heroin.[18] The purpose of these coffee shops are to prevent people who use soft drugs such as cannabis from coming into contact with hard drugs.[18] The legal age to get into these coffeeshops is 18 years old.[19] While cannabis can be sold legally through coffeeshops, trafficking the drug is illegal under Dutch law, which means that the coffeeshops have to obtain their cannabis secretly and illegally.[20]

Criteria for coffee shops:[18]

Effects on minors

Many children as young as twelve years old are feeling pressured to try cannabis in the Netherlands.[21] The reason for this is because of the tolerance principle that is in place, meaning that authorities cannot prosecute someone for possessing cannabis if it is under five grams.[19] Because of the lack of enforcement in this, it is giving children the opportunity to possess marijuana in small amounts. Dutch youth have reported higher than average availability of cannabis, but no higher compared to the United States.[22] Many coffee shops have been shut down because of how close they are to schools. Local authorities were afraid that the location of the businesses would influence the youth and take advantage of them.[21]

Amsterdam's mayor, Eberhard van der Laan stated “I think the more relaxed you look at this phenomena, the easier people will stop with it because there is no thrill in using it [if it’s tolerated]".[17] This is a common perception among many individuals within the Netherlands. While they fear substance abuse, citizens of the Netherlands are accepting of the decriminalization of cannabis because individuals will often start to find it "boring" and no longer want to consume cannabis.[17] There is currently no movement towards decriminalization or legalization of cannabis for minors.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Impact of Marijuana on Children and Adolescents". California Society of Addiction Medicine. September 2009.
  2. 1 2 Stolzenberg, Lisa; D'Alessio, Stewart; Dariano, Dustin. "The Effect of Medical Cannabis Laws on Juvenile Cannabis Use". International Journal of Drug Policy.
  3. 1 2 3 Giraldo, Camilo. "Continued Opposition to Uruguay Marijuana Law and Challenge for Government". InSight Crime. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Szalavitz, Maia. "Is Medical Marijuana Safe for Children?". TIME.
  5. ↑ Gwynne, Kristen. "Why Teen Pot Smoking Could be a Good Thing".
  6. ↑ Gurciullo, Brianna; Mawdsley, Karen; Campbell, Katie. "The marijuana legalization movement begins in the states". The Center for Public Integrity.
  7. 1 2 "Adolescents". Drug War Facts. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "What is the scope of marijuana use in the United States?". National Institute of Drug Abuse. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Borchardt, Debra. "Legalized Medical Marijuana Doesn't Increase Teen Usage, Study Finds". Forbes. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. 1 2 "How does marijuana use affect schools, work, and social life?". National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "Marijuana Use: Detrimental to Youth". American College of Pediatricians.
  12. ↑ Room, Robin. "Legalzing a Market for Cannabis for Pleasure: Colorado, Washington, Uruguay and beyond". Addiction: 345–349.
  13. ↑ Lopez, German. "Why the first country to legalize marijuana might give up". Vox. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  14. 1 2 Walsh, John; Ramsey, Geoff. "Uruguay's Drug Policy: Major Innovations, Major Challenges". Foreign Policy at Brookings.
  15. ↑ Fernanda Boidi, Maria; Miguel Crus, José; Queiroloe, Rosario; Bello-Pardo, Emily. "Marijuana Legalization in Uruguay and Beyond" (PDF). Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Dutch Drug Policy". Holland. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 Grether, Nicole. "In the Netherlands, 38 years of tolerating pot". Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 "Toleration policy regarding soft drugs and coffee shops". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  19. 1 2 "FAQ Coffeeshops in Amsterdam". I Amsterdam.
  20. ↑ Rolles, Steve. "Cannabis policy in the Netherlands: moving forwards not backwards". Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  21. 1 2 McKenzie, Alecia. "Netherlands to see increase in youth smoking pot; taking steps to revise cannabis laws". The World Post. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  22. ↑ MacCoun, Robert. "What Can We Learn from the Dutch Cannabis Experience". RAND.
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