Changes in Youth Cannabis Use After an Increase in Cannabis Minimum Legal Age in Quebec, Canada

Source:

Nguyen HV, Mital S. Changes in Youth Cannabis Use After an Increase in Cannabis Minimum Legal Age in Quebec, Canada. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(6):e2217648. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.17648

Key Points

Question  Is there an association of the increase in cannabis minimum legal age (MLA) from 18 to 21 years in Quebec, Canada, with youth cannabis use?

Findings  In this cross-sectional study with difference-in-differences analysis of 1005 youths aged 15 to 20 years, although youth cannabis use still increased after the policy change, the increase in past-3-month cannabis use among youths aged 18 to 20 years was 51% lower in Quebec than in other provinces. There was no change in cannabis use among youths aged 15 to 17 years.

Meaning  The lower increase in cannabis use among individuals aged 18 to 20 years alleviates concerns that youths would switch to illegal markets in response to a higher MLA; however, the increase in youth cannabis use despite the higher MLA highlights the need for additional policy measures to address rising youth cannabis use.