Rising popularity
In 2023, over 10 million people between the ages of 12-25 had used marijuana within the previous month. And, following the legalization of marijuana in many states, cannabis use disorder in youth has risen a staggering 25%.
So the question remains: Why is marijuana becoming so popular among our youth?
Legalization
As you learned in the previous lesson, Wisconsin is surrounded by states that have legalized marijuana. This makes it easier for anyone (teens included) to take a drive across state lines and purchase marijuana products without much hassle.
Deceiving Products
THC-infused foods and drinks are on the rise. Many of them are created specifically to look like normal snacks, sweets or beverages (think Mountain Dew, Pop-Tarts, KitKats, etc.). Often, the packaging is almost identical, with the name being only slightly different. While most states require such products to include serving sizes and THC content on their packaging, this isn’t always enough to keep our children from mistaking them for their real counterparts.
Marketing Tactics
If you’ve taken the Vaping course, then you know how the tobacco industry has targeted youth with different marketing tactics. Unfortunately, marijuana companies participate in the same practice. To make the most out of sales and profits, companies use colorful, appealing packaging, delicious flavors, and social media to grab attention.