HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/11/12 Written Communications - Public Comments - Lippitt Drug Free America Foundation 11.04.19 Sharif Mohr MPH, PhD Written Communica Oris
Item # l-Name /
Cannabis Advertising and Social Media study
In recently published data from the Cannabis Advertising and Social Media study(CASM),youth who engaged with
cannabis brands and advertishttps://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/191017agendarb.pdfements on social
media were 5 times more likely to have used marijuana over the past year compared to those who did not.Moreover,
youth who had a favorite brand of cannabis were 8 times more likely to report marijuana use than those who did not.
These results send a clear signal to lawmakers that contrary to the assertions of the marijuana industry,legalization
does indeed result in increased use among adolescents.
We know that the human brain is an exquisite yet delicate instrument that is not fully developed until the age of 25.
This makes adolescents especially susceptible to industry manipulation and addiction.Lawmakers have banned the
marketing of tobacco products to children for this very reason.
Today's potent strains of marijuana rob youth of their motivation,diminishes their cognitive abilities,and keeps them
from reaching their full potential.
Moreover,research shows that marijuana use during adolescence primes the brains for addiction to more dangerous
substances.The need to restrict the ability of the marijuana industry to market their wares to children is more urgent
than ever.Swift action needs to be taken to protect this vulnerable population.
From the study: Abstract
METHODS:
Data are from an online survey of 482 adolescents(aged 15-19 years) living in states with legalized retail cannabis. Youth
were asked about their engagement with cannabis promotions, including whether they liked/followed cannabis businesses on
social media(Facebook,Twitter,and Instagram),had a favorite cannabis brand,or could see themselves owning/wearing a
cannabis-branded product.Youth also self-reported cannabis use in the past year. We used logistic regression with a
Bonferroni correction to compare the odds of cannabis use among youth with different levels of engagement with cannabis
promotions and brands after controlling for demographics.
RESULTS:
After adjusting for several possible confounders,youth who liked or followed a cannabis business on at least one social
media platform had 5 times higher odds of past-year cannabis use(aOR=5.00,95%Cl: 2.47, 10.09,p<0.001). Youth who
thought it was likely that they would own or wear cannabis-branded merchandise(aOR=6.93, 95%Cl: 4.45, 10.78,
p<0.001)or who had a favorite cannabis brand(aOR=7.98, 95%Cl: 4.90, 13.00,p<0.001)had nearly 8 times greater odds
of past-year cannabis use.
CONCLUSION:
Youth who engage with cannabis promotions and brands had higher odds of past-year cannabis use.Jurisdictions with retail
cannabis may want to consider restrictions to limit youth engagement with cannabis promotions.
hLtps•//www dfaf or marijuana-industry-advertising-via-social-media-increases-adolescent-use-of-marijuana/Related
Other Articles:
Marijuana increases alcohol consumption in Canadian study
by Sharif Mohr, MPH, PhD Oct 23 2019
Dr. Mohr's Research Blog• Study Finds Marijuana Use Worsens PTSD Symptoms
by Drug Free America Foundation Sep 09 2019
Unleashing A Beast: Marijuana is not the Solution
by Drug Free America Foundation Aug 05 2019
Dr. Mohr's Research Blog: Prenatal Exposure to THC
by Drug Free America Foundation Jul 31 2019