Use of marijuana and changing risk perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
To improve understanding of which adolescents were most likely to perceive marijuana as not harmful.


METHODS
Analyses were based on the SHARP survey, conducted in 3 large school districts in Utah in 2009, 2011, and 2013, among students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12.


RESULTS
Across school grades, students who viewed marijuana as not harmful were ≥9 times more likely to have used marijuana. The perception that marijuana has no risk was higher in males, Hispanics, youth not living with their mother or father, and increased with school grade and decreased with the education of the student's guardian.


CONCLUSIONS
Those historically identified as high risk for marijuana use also were most likely to view marijuana as not harmful.
Department of Health Science, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA. Ray_Merrill@byu.edu.
Ray M
RM
Merrill
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002188:Cannabis; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology