Cannabis Legalization, Tobacco Prevention Policies, and Cannabis Use in E-Cigarettes among Youth

With the rise in e-cigarette use among youth and the ease to conceal marijuana use in e-cigarettes, identifying an association between youth marijuana use in e-cigarettes and marijuana legalization policies has important public health implications considering the changing marijuana landscape and the harms of marijuana use on adolescent development. In this study, the researchers analyzed 2016-2017 data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey to compare youth who ever used marijuana in e-cigarettes to youth who ever used e-cigarettes without marijuana in relation to state-level policies, tobacco perceptions, tobacco exposures, and sociodemographics. The analysis found the following: Use of marijuana in e-cigarettes among middle and high school youth increased from 2016 to 2017; comparing youth who ever used marijuana in e-cigarettes to youth who ever used e-cigarettes without marijuana, positive associations were found for states with medical or recreational policies and exposure to e-cigarette advertising; and about 20% of youth who ever used marijuana in e-cigarettes believed that using e-cigarettes on some days was associated with no harm. These findings highlight the need for longitudinal research on marijuana legalization policies and the impacts on youth as well as the need for prevention strategies targeting youth in relation to e-cigarettes, tobacco, and marijuana. 

Nicksic, N. E., Do, E. K., & Barnes, A. J. (2019). Cannabis legalization, tobacco prevention policies, and cannabis use in e-cigarettes among youth. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 206(2020). doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107730