Researcher Warns Info From a New Study Information Should Be Considered Before Using, Legalizing Marijuana

CHICAGO (TheBlaze/AP) -- Marijuana use among U.S. adults doubled over a decade, rising to almost 10 percent or more than 22 million mostly recreational users, government surveys show.

The trend reflects a cultural shift and increasingly permissive views about the drug, the researchers say, noting that other studies have shown increasing numbers of adults think marijuana should be legalized. Recreational use is now permitted in four states.

Reuters pointed out that while use has doubled, so has the prevalence of disorders associated with the drug, which it notes is "largely due to the overall increase in new users." Of existing users, Reuters reported a 15 percent decline in marijuana-related disorders during the survey period:

About 4 percent of adults between 2001 and 2002 reported having used marijuana in the past year, compared to about 10 percent between 2012 and 2013. Similarly, 1.5 percent had abuse or dependence problems - so-called marijuana use disorder - at the start of the 21st Century, compared to about 3 percent from 2012 to 2013.

The results come from a comparison of health surveys from 2001-02 and 2012-13 sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Almost 80,000 adults aged 18 and older participated in face-to-face interviews about various health-related behaviors. Results were published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Pot Partakers

Participants were asked if they had used marijuana in the past year, and about signs of problematic use. Those include trying but unable to reduce heavy use, and continued use despite knowing it may be damaging health or causing depression or anxiety - problems affecting about 6.8 million adults, the latest survey suggests.

Use increased among all ages but was most common in adults aged 18-29.

Teen marijuana use is higher. About 23 percent of high school students had used the drug in the past month in 2013 - but it has been somewhat stable during the past decade, other research shows.

A sample of cannabis is shown in a sniffer at Shango Premium Cannabis, in Portland , Ore., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. Oregon marijuana stores have begun sales to recreational users, marking a big day for the budding pot industry in the state. Some of the more than 250 dispensaries in Oregon that already offer medical marijuana opened their doors early Thursday to begin selling the drug just moments after it became legal to do so. (AP/Timothy J. Gonzalez)

Experts' Take

Because most states didn't have medical marijuana laws during the survey years, the results likely reflect mostly recreational use, said Deborah Hasin, a Columbia University professor, substance abuse researcher and the study's lead author.

The results "show people can use marijuana without harms, but there are risks," she said, adding that more research on causes of problematic use is needed.

Hasin told Reuters that a "balanced message" when it comes to the perception that pot is harmless and its risks.

"People should consider this information when they’re making choices about using marijuana, and the public should consider the information as they consider legalization," Hasin told Reuters.

Dr. Wilson Compton, deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said other research has shown similar trends but that the sharp increase found in the surveys is striking. Prevalence of dependence "is of great concern" to public health officials, he said.

A bag of cannabis buds are seen at Amazon Organics, a pot dispensary in Eugene, Ore., on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. Medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon will be able to sell recreational marijuana starting Thursday. (AP/Ryan Kang)

Marijuana Landscape

Recreational use is legal in four states - Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington - and many more have moved to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. Proposed laws supporting recreational use have been introduced in at least 21 states this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Medical marijuana programs have been approved in 23 states.

Other states are currently considering approving its use as well.

Here's one considering it for medical use:

And another considering recreational and medical use:

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