Weeding Out the Truth: Adolescents and Cannabis

摘要

The use of cannabis for both legal (similar to alcohol) and medical purposes is becoming more common. Although cannabis remains an illegal Schedule 1 drug federally, as of November 2015, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical cannabis, and 4 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of cannabis for adults aged 21 years and older. It is very likely that more and more states will sooner rather than later allow cannabis for both medical and legal purposes. This review article will focus on a variety of issues relevant to the current debate about cannabis, and will address the following:Definitions of cannabis/cannabinoids/related; cannabis delivery methodsHistory of federal legality/illegality of cannabis in the United StatesCurrent status of cannabis in the US states: legal medical, decriminalization, legalUse of cannabis medically by adults and adolescents; medical cannabis legalization and impact on adolescent use of recreational cannabisMajor medical organizations position statements on cannabisEpidemiology of cannabis use among adolescentsEffects and side effects of legal cannabis use; DUICannabis use and the adolescent brainDSM-5 Criteria Cannabis Use Disorder and Withdrawal