What's the Rush, RI?
Advocating for Evidence Based Marijuana Policy
Position 1
The General Assembly and all Rhode Islanders have the opportunity and responsibility to wait until the results of thorough research and analysis of the Colorado and Washington State experiments are available to better inform our decision.
For example, as the table below indicates Colorado has shown significant differences in marijuana use in 8th graders since it was legalized there. While it is difficult to know as yet whether this trend adolescent use will continue, waiting until we can be sure would clearly be in Rhode Island’s best interests.
Denver’s Marijuana Rates vs US
Last 30 Day Use Rates vs. U.S. and information on perceptions and use rates among specific populations:
Source U.S. 8th 10th and 12th Grade Monitoring the Future Study 2014
Source U.S. 9th Grade – CDC Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2014
Source Denver: Healthy Kids Colorado Survey 2014 http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/Resources/HKCS/HighSchool/HSR20_HS.pdf
|
Grade |
Marijuana US |
Marijuana Denver |
Percent Higher in Denver than US |
|
8th |
6.5% |
22.5% |
350% |
|
9th |
17% |
23.8% |
35% |
|
10th |
16.6% |
25.3% |
56% |
|
12th |
21.2% |
30% |
42% |
Additional data of concern for Denver:
- Use among Denver’s African American youth is almost 30% (29.6) and Caucasian Youth is 31%
- Almost 40% of Denver’s Caucasian high school males are using and 33% of African Americanfemale high school students
- 63% of Denver high school students say it’s sort of easy or very easy to get marijuana
- Only 44% of Denver High School youth believe regular marijuana use is harmful with the lowestperception of harm among African American youth (36%)
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