Exposure to Advertisements and Marijuana Use Among US Adolescents

Introduction This study examined whether exposure to marijuana advertisements was associated with current marijuana use and frequency ofuse among US adolescents in grades 8, 10, and 12.MethodsWeighted estimates of exposure to marijuana advertisements andmarijuana use from the 2014 and 2015 Monitoring the Futurestudies were investigated. Factors associated with the prevalenceand frequency of marijuana use were analyzed by using logisticregression and linear regression models, respectively.ResultsOf all respondents (n = 12,988), 13.8% reported marijuana use inthe past 30 days. Exposure to marijuana advertisements was prevalent among adolescents, with 52.8% reporting exposure from internet advertisements, 32.1% from television advertisements,24.1% from magazine or newspaper advertisements, 19.7% fromradio advertisements, 19.0% from advertisements on storefronts,and 16.6% from billboards. In the multivariable analysis, currentuse of marijuana among adolescents was associated with exposureto marijuana advertisements on storefronts (adjusted odds ratio[OR] = 1.4, P <.001), magazines or newspapers (adjusted OR =1.6, P <.001), billboards (adjusted OR = 1.4, P =.002), internet(adjusted OR = 1.8, P <.001), television (adjusted OR = 1.4, P <.001) and radio (adjusted OR = 1.7, P <.001). Exposure tomarijuana advertisements from the internet was associated with increased use of marijuana (β = 0.3, P =.04)ConclusionExposure to marijuana advertisements was associated with higherodds of current marijuana use among adolescents. Regulations thatlimit marijuana advertisements to adolescents and educationalcampaigns on harmfulness of illicit marijuana use are needed.