Adolescent Marijuana Use: An Analysis of Protective and Risk Factors on Adolescent Cannabis Consumption
Open Access
- Author:
- Toliver, Blake Dj
- Area of Honors:
- Criminology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Jeremy Staff, Thesis Supervisor
Stacy Silver, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- marijuana
adolescents
protective
risk
criminology - Abstract:
- This thesis explores the effect of protective and risk factors on adolescent marijuana use. As the legalization of marijuana across the United States begins to expand, access to marijuana products even amongst adolescents becomes more accessible. This could consequently have detrimental effects to the overall well-being of adolescents across the United States. Literature accessing the harms of marijuana use in relation to deviance has been well documented. These possible harms include lower grades, decreased aspirations, and higher levels of marijuana use. This study looked at several variables in relation to adolescent marijuana use in the last twelve months. These variables relate to extracurricular involvement, peer associations, neutralizations, and academic performance. In order to test these variables, the Monitoring the Future (MTF) 2019 data set was used, and statistical tests were run using R-studio. The subjects being focused on, however, only include adolescent marijuana users, excluding adolescents who did not smoke in the last twelve months. It was found that marijuana use was associated with lower grade point average, fewer concerns about being arrested for cannabis use, and a greater likelihood of further use if offered by a peer. However, some results relating to extracurricular involvement were inconclusive. These results both support and negate the literature presented in this study. Further sections of the thesis will expand on this. Future research into adolescent marijuana use will help researchers and parents as well as adolescents better understand its effects on wellbeing and longer life outcomes.