Are e-cigarettes a gateway to cannabis use for teens and young adults? Yes, says new study
- The research examined marijuana use among 10- to 24-year-olds through a compilation of 21 studies from a number of Western countries
- It appears to support the theory that nicotine affects the developing brain, influencing how people respond to addictive substances
Adolescents and young adults who use electronic cigarettes are far more likely to also use marijuana, according to research released this week.
The study, published online this week in JAMA Paediatrics, said the odds of marijuana use among young people who used e-cigarettes was 3.5 times greater than among those who said they had not used e-cigarettes.
The authors, who include researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, say policymakers should pay attention to this connection.
“These findings should be taken into account in the design of public policies aiming to restrict access to minors,” the authors wrote. The studies’ results, they added, “highlight the importance of addressing the rapid increases in e-cigarette use among youths as a means to help limit marijuana use in this population.”
