Washington State Recreational Marijuana Legalization: Parent and Adolescent Perceptions, Knowledge, and Discussions in a Sample of Low-Income Families

In 2012, Washington State became one of the first in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults. As popular support for marijuana legalization increases (Gallup, 2013), it is important to study the effects of legalization on youth. One possible consequence of these changes is increased adolescent marijuana use due to greater exposure to and availability of marijuana (von Sydow, K, et al., 2002). Parents might mitigate this potential adverse consequence through monitoring and communication of expectations for non-use (Lac, A., 2009); however, the degree to which parents and adolescents have accurate knowledge about recreational marijuana laws and are discussing marijuana use in light of the law changes is unknown.   

This preliminary study examines data on perceptions, knowledge, and parent-child discussions about Washington State’s recreational marijuana law collected from a sample of low-income families. Participants were a subset of families enrolled in an ongoing randomized study that recruited parents and adolescents from 5 middle schools in Tacoma, WA in the fall of 2010 (n=115 as of September 2013). A two-year follow-up assessment was conducted during the summer/fall of 2013 and, capitalizing on the unique opportunity, items were added about Washington State’s new marijuana law. Questions included the degree to which legalization has impacted attitudes and behaviors, knowledge about legal aspects of the law, and frequency/content of discussions about the law (parents only).

Analyses show both parents and youth indicated little change in their attitudes about marijuana use or the likelihood they will use marijuana due to the law change; however, parent lifetime marijuana users reported becoming more favorable to adults using marijuana and an increased likelihood of using themselves compared to parent non-users. Parents and youth also displayed uncertainty about what is legal under the new law. Only 57% of parents accurately indicated the legal age for marijuana use while less than half of the youth correctly reported legal possession amounts. Overall, 70% of parents indicated discussing the marijuana law with their adolescent child, although the frequency of having such discussions was relatively low. Conversations about the law change emphasized household rules about marijuana use, particularly among parent lifetime marijuana users. While these results are limited by the small, convenience sample, they suggest a lack of knowledge and familial communication about the recent law changes. The results also support the need for a strong and consistent message about the dangers of youth marijuana use and a public health campaign focused on parents and adolescents that provides clear information about the recreational marijuana laws.