Strategies to help young adults limit negative consequences of marijuana use

By Eric R. Pedersen

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 have been shown to be the most prevalent and problematic users of marijuana. And now with laws for recreational marijuana sales emerging in multiple states, there is a need to understand how the potential for harm can be minimized among young adults who choose to use the drug.

My colleagues and I at RAND and other research institutions have developed a Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale for Marijuana that helps identify some practices young adults can use to help limit their use of marijuana and avoid negative consequences.

Marijuana laws have changed substantially in the United States over the past 22 years. Since 1996, 29 states and the District of Columbia have implemented medical marijuana laws. In the past five years, nine states and D.C. have established laws to legalize the sale and/or possession of recreational marijuana. As a result of legalization, dispensaries that sell marijuana have proliferated in legal states, granting legal access to those age 21 and older regardless of medical conditions.

Some examples of items on the list are:

• Avoid using marijuana before work or school.
• Keep track of your costs to get an accurate picture of how much you spend on marijuana.
• Avoid situations that you anticipate being pressured to use marijuana.
• Use marijuana only among trusted peers.
• Avoid using marijuana to cope with emotions such as sadness or depression.
• Use a little and then wait to see how you feel before using more.
• Limit use to weekends.