(Alexandria, VA) A new study in the most prominent medical journal dealing with substance use, Addiction, details how marijuana legalization in four large legal states led to increases in youth and adult use, versus non-legal states.

“The findings add new evidence of a connection between legalizing adult use and a surge of use among kids," wrote an Axios news release about the study.

The study, which looked at more than 21,000 youths in California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Maine, found "among youths, the association between RCL and greater odds of transition from non-users to users was seen in comparison with non-legalization states."

"This is what we warned about a decade ago when states went down this path," said Smart Approaches to Marijuana President Kevin Sabet. “This addiction-for-profit industry targets kids, and legalization gives young people the idea marijuana is harmless, or perhaps even good for you."

As stated in the SAM Science Advisory Board’s letter to Delaware Governor John Carney sent just last week, which preceded his veto of legalization there, the marijuana industry aims to minimize the real harm that marijuana can have on mental and physical health and exploits citizens who are suffering from addiction.

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Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are nonpartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.