The US senator was surprised to learn that legalizing marijuana is not increasing teenage use

Studies over the years have shown that legalizing marijuana has had no effect on teenage use. And while this isn’t surprising news to those in the know, one US Senator was stunned when confronted with this (not even new) information.

The information was presented by Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Volkow was present at a hearing on Wednesday, where she provided some measured information about cannabis, highlighting some of its risks but clarifying that the available data does not indicate that legal marijuana makes teenage use more likely.

RELATED: Cannabis use doesn’t make lazy teens or college students, studies show

Photo by Flickr user Rex Hammock

When asked about legalizing marijuana, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said NIDA’s research shows evidence that marijuana damages the brains of young people.

“This is definitely one of the areas where we are most concerned when it comes to legalizing marijuana,” Volkow said, prompting Cassidy to posit that states with more permissive approaches to cannabis have higher rates of mental illness Teenagers and young adults should have .

“There are no studies in the USA that have proven this,” said Volkow. “Specifically, legalization of marijuana has not been associated with an increase in marijuana use among youth.” Cassidy then said that states with relaxed blue liquor laws (restrictive alcohol use laws) had higher levels of youth drinking. “We’re seeing a significant increase in marijuana use among adults, but not among adolescents, which is different than what you’re saying with the alcohol,” Volkow explained.

These startling findings, which have also been used to foment prohibitionist ideas, come as no surprise to marijuana advocates, who have long said creating a legal market for marijuana could curb underage use. “These latest findings add to the growing body of scientific literature showing that marijuana regulatory policies can be implemented to allow adult access while restricting access and abuse by youth,” said NORML Associate Director Paul Armentano , in relation to the latest findings of study showing no link between legal cannabis and teenage use.

RELATED: Cannabis increases likelihood of this disorder in teens despite infrequent use

Teenage cannabis use has been linked to a predisposition to mental illness. Although this link is not understood (it is not known whether cannabis can cause mental illness or whether teenagers with a predisposition to these disorders tend to seek cannabis, etc.), this is an issue that needs to be monitored and investigated.