Chronic Adolescent Marijuana Use as a Risk Factor for physical and mental health prpoblems in young adult men

Some evidence suggests that youth who use marijuana heavily during adolescence may be particularly
prone to health problems in later adulthood (e.g., respiratory illnesses, psychotic symptoms). However,
relatively few longitudinal studies have prospectively examined the long-term physical and mental health
consequences associated with chronic adolescent marijuana use. The present study used data from a
longitudinal sample of Black and White young men to determine whether different developmental
patterns of marijuana use, assessed annually from early adolescence to the mid-20s, were associated with
adverse physical (e.g., asthma, high blood pressure) and mental (e.g., psychosis, anxiety disorders) health
outcomes in the mid-30s. Analyses also examined whether chronic marijuana use was more strongly
associated with later health problems in Black men relative to White men. Findings from latent class
growth curve analysis identified 4 distinct subgroups of marijuana users: early onset chronic users, late
increasing users, adolescence-limited users, and low/nonusers. Results indicated that the 4 marijuana use
trajectory groups were not significantly different in terms of their physical and mental health problems
assessed in the mid-30s. The associations between marijuana group membership and later health
problems did not vary significantly by race. Findings are discussed in the context of a larger body of work
investigating the potential long-term health consequences of early onset chronic marijuana use, as well
as the complications inherent in studying the possible link between marijuana use and health effects.