Parenting and Providing Care to Adolescents and Young Adults Who Use Cannabis

Abstract

Recreational and medical cannabis are legal in 38 states and D.C., leaving only 12 states with prohibition still on the books. Nevertheless, strict age restrictions prevent adolescents and many young adults from possessing, procuring, or consuming it legally. This does not mean they abstain. Instead, young people consume, learn about, and procure cannabis outside the confines of normative society. State and local policies are experiencing rapid change, making it challenging to guide young people. With a focus on cannabis education for guardians and clinicians, the current chapter provides information about the use of cannabis during adolescence and young adulthood. Readers are provided a primer on cannabis and cannabis policy. Aging and cannabis use are then discussed with a focus on adolescence and young adulthood. The chapter concludes with recommendations for guardians and healthcare providers as they navigate the use of cannabis during adolescence.