Youth cannabis vaping is highest in states where weed is only medically legal, study says

Rates of cannabis vaping in youth are highest in states where only medical marijuana is legal, according to a new study out of Washington State University.

About 27% of high school seniors in states where cannabis is legal for medical use only reported vaping cannabis, according to the study. This same group reported the highest rate of underage usage.

Meanwhile, only 19% of high school seniors living in states where recreational cannabis is legal — or states where it is completely banned — reported vaping the plant.

Christian Maynard is a doctoral student at Washington State University's sociology department and the study’s lead researcher. Maynard said the study's findings could be the result of youth in medical-only states perceiving cannabis use to be less risky.

“It does seem that perhaps youth are getting messages that are associating ‘healthy,’ [and] ‘medical’ with cannabis,” Maynard explained.

There is a big difference between vaping cannabis and smoking it.

Maynard said vaping a substance makes it more highly concentrated, and therefore a lot more potent. Vaping cannabis can be up to 90% potent while cannabis flower is more like 20% potency, Maynard added.

He also pointed out that vaping cannabis could be more popular among youth because it is easier to conceal. These factors open up the potential for the product to be abused, Maynard said.

The study also found that 62% of youth participants who live in medical-only states reported having very easy access to cannabis vaping cartridges. Meanwhile, 52% of high school seniors living in states where cannabis use is either prohibited or recreationally legal reported having easy access to cartridges.