Abstract

      Using the most comprehensive data source on teen marijuana use available in Canada, this study finds that marijuana smoking is widespread by both those aged 14 to 17, and at least one of their close friends. Moreover, it is strongly associated with many anti-social and high-risk behaviors. Subgroups especially prone to marijuana use include both girls and boys who say they have gotten drunk, have had school problems, have skipped school, who have had sexual intercourse, who have had a painful break-up; and who have friends who smoke, drink, try marijuana and have skipped school. They are more likely to come from homes in which the parents live common-law, where there is just one parent present, or where the main parent works. Users are more likely to come from Quebec, to speak French only, and to be French Roman Catholic.

      Teens, both girls and boys, who say they have at least one close friend who smokes marijuana are more likely to have tried marijuana themselves, to have gotten drunk, to have had school problems, to have skipped school, to have had sexual intercourse, and to have had a painful break-up. They also are more likely to have at least one close friend who drinks alcohol and has skipped school.

      After controlling for several factors, we find that education of the parent is unrelated to the likelihood of their teen's use of marijuana, though the work commitment of the main parent is associated with a higher incidence of marijuana use. The parent's worship frequency, and if the parent is married rather than unmarried, are two factors associated with a lower incidence. Also, conservative Christian and non-Christian teens (both compared with liberal Protestant) are associated with a lower likelihood of marijuana use. Teens in Quebec are more likely to be users than teens in Ontario.

      Similar results are obtained for marijuana friendship rates, except that the Quebec and marital status effects are insignificant among most subpopulations of teens examined.

      This study also includes an argument concerning teen marijuana use in Canada, one that is preliminary and partially rejected by the results obtained: most significantly, the assumed higher incidence of marijuana use and user friendship rates among boys than girls, and the age of the main parent, after controlling for other factors, is not found to be the case.

      Finally, policy implications are suggested by the fact that marijuana consumption is so widespread and is positively associated with other high-risk behaviours of teens, and with relationship- and school-performance problems, while negatively associated with the main parent's weak or non-existent workplace attachments, frequent worship, consultations with spiritual leaders, volunteering in local settings, and with non-smoking and drinking lifestyles. The suggested policy implications apply to teens, parents, schools, faith communities, and governments.