Marijuana Use Patterns and Risk Attitudes in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Abstract

Attitudes toward risks guide human decisions in various life domains. In adolescence, risk aversion protects from engaging in risky behavior that can have adverse health outcomes such as unprotected sex or illegal substances use (Reyna & Farley, 2006). In a longer developmental perspective, however, some degree of risk-taking can be useful. The experience of risk in adolescence provides a chance to build knowledge and skills so that a mature person perceives and manages challenges better after. This argument can be made even for moderate marijuana use (Percy, 2008). My thesis examines whether individuals who take a risk in adolescence develop more positive attitudes towards risks in adulthood. I use a longitudinal representative data NLS97 to track history of marijuana use of 4449 individuals and explore its impact on risk aversion in adulthood. I operationalize the experience of risk as a scenario of marijuana use, that started during adolescence but does not continue in adulthood. Regression analysis was used to explore whether the experience of risk in adolescence makes attitudes towards risk more positive in adulthood.

My findings suggest that neither temporary limited use itself or non-use do not influence risk perception. Stable marijuana users demonstrate lower risk aversion in adulthood, which is in line with previous research. However, by using instrumental variables approach, I find that this effect cannot be attributed to marijuana use. My findings support further abandonment criminalization of marijuana use among adolescents in favor of more health-oriented approaches.