How young is too young for cannabis?

An article has been published in the journal BMC Public Health, titled “Too young for cannabis? Choice of a minimum legal age for legalized non-medical cannabis in Canada.” This fascinating article evaluates the evidence of harm relating to age of onset for cannabis use, across a number of domains including educational attainment, cigarette smoking, self-reported general and mental health. The authors found slightly different age cut offs for the different harm outcomes. For example, in order to reduce the risks associated with poor educational outcomes, the authors found that an age cut off of 21 would be appropriate. Yet for reducing the risks associated with general health impacts, it was found that an age cut off of 18 was more appropriate.  The authors then attempt to balance these various findings, settling on an age cut off of 19, which has been adopted by most Canadian provinces. 

Go to “Too young for cannabis? Choice of a minimum legal age for legalized non-medical cannabis in Canada.”