Legalizing Marijuana in California: Information for Parents

Legalizing Marijuana in California: Information for Parents It is likely that Proposition 64, which will legalize the use of recreational marijuana in California, will pass in November. At least, that is what most people expect. As an addiction treatment provider, it matters little to me whether or not marijuana is legal or illegal. The drugs that people use and abuse are based largely on social norms, not legal status. When it is socially acceptable to use a substance, more people will choose that substance to use over others. Think about prohibition; people didn’t stop using alcohol because it was made illegal. Although use trends fluctuated, people continued to use alcohol, despite its illegal status, because it was socially acceptable to do so. Tobacco is legal, but its use has declined as smoking cigarettes has become more socially unacceptable. The trend is changing with vaping. Marijuana, by and large, is viewed in America as an acceptable substance to use to unwind or have a little fun. Legal or illegal, people are going to smoke weed. With the increased normalization of marijuana use, there are issues about which parents must be aware: The younger a person is when they start using substances, the more likely they are to become addicted. It is well established in the medical literature that the younger a person is when they start using a substance, the more likely it is that they will develop a substance use disorder when they are older. We see this all the time w...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Richard Taite Source Type: blogs