In the context of the increased prevalence of marijuana use among youth and the movement towards legalization in many states, it is important to understand the long-term impact of marijuana-use initiation. Doctoral student Hydeen Beverly, professor Yessenia Castro and colleagues examined whether age of first marijuana-use is associated with educational attainment and employment status.
Controlling for demographics, they found that individuals with late first use had significantly higher odds of graduating from high school and being employed when compared to individuals with early first use.
Results, published in the Journal of Drug Issues, underscore the importance of early prevention for youth aged 15 and younger.