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The site for substance use disorder prevention and mental health promotion professionals and volunteers.

Home » Cannabis use and misuse

Cannabis use and misuse

Addressing cannabis use and misuse is a state priority.

  • Accessibility is high. There are 483 locations in Washington to obtain retail and/or medical cannabis (Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board, July 2019).
  • About 1 in 10 cannabis users will develop a substance use disorder. For people who begin using before the age of 18, that number rises to 1 in 6. When youth use cannabis they can experience a reduction in their ability to concentrate, difficulty with memory, trouble learning and reduce significant brain connections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

 

Cannabis use by youth in Washington State:

  • Almost 18 percent of 10th grade students report using cannabis in the past 30 days (Healthy Youth Survey, 2018).
  • One in three 10th grade students thought there was a slight risk or no risk of using cannabis regularly (Healthy Youth Survey, 2018).

 

Prevention strategies are being implemented throughout the state at local, county, and state levels, across the Continuum of Care that influence multiple domains and risk and protective factors. Here is a list of some state-wide initiatives focused specifically on cannabis:

Community library - Marijuana

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Harrison Fontaine
Policy and Program Manager
harrison.fontaine@hca.wa.gov