Research findings are inconsistent regarding a positive association between the passage of state medical marijuana laws (MML) and adolescent access and use marijuana. We utilized a novel analytical approach to examine this issue with multi-year data from the 1997–2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) of the State of Michigan. After controlling for the historically declining trend in marijuana use prior to the passages of MML in Michigan, we found that marijuana use among adolescents had increased subsequent to the passage of state MML. Study findings suggest the need for considering the increased risk of marijuana use among adolescents as the number of states with laws permitting marijuana use is increasing.
Keywords: Michigan; YRBS; adolescents; marijuana use; medical marijuana laws.