Although it is illegal to advertise cannabis to teenagers, young people said in polls that they encounter many positive cannabis ads on social media.
Researchers from Washington State University discovered a link between these signals and the youth’s intentions to use marijuana and, in the case of university students, their actual usage. Anti-cannabis messaging also reduced usage intentions but was less prevalent among young people.
Young people exposed to pro-cannabis ads
The study’s first author, Jessica Willoughby, said that young people have increasingly been bombarded with marijuana information from the past generations. However, Willoughby added that youths saw positive messages about cannabis use and little about the dangers.
Cannabis promotion to minors is prohibited by state laws, which forbid the usage of cartoon characters or famous young people. But, this does not stop people from discussing marijuana on social media.
Around 80% of research participants said they had seen pro-cannabis material on social networks, like posts promoting getting high or assertions that cannabis is safe. The most prevalent pro-cannabis statements were those expressed by famous people or in music lyrics.
Co-author Stacey Hust said that parents might not know if their child is on social media and whether they will see cannabis texts. Therefore it implies that they need training in schools at early ages, especially in middle and high school health classes where they should discuss marijuana and its dangers to brain development.
Study participants also saw anti-cannabis messages on social media
The study’s participants also mentioned seeing a few anti-cannabis messages, such as those claiming that smoking marijuana is disgusting or just for losers or those who can’t handle the truth. Nevertheless, they indicated seeing these texts less frequently than pro-cannabis messages.
Teenagers and university students who mentioned receiving more favourable ads were far more likely to say they planned to use marijuana. When the college students’ real use was questioned, there was a strong correlation between their exposure to pro-cannabis tweets and their use.
