Consequences of adolescent marijuana use: Incompatibility with the assumption of adult roles

This longitudinal study is an examination of the relationship between marij uana use and the assumption of adult roles, as well as the relationship bet ween assuming adult roles and the likelihood of later marijuana use. Data w ere collected at 5 points in time from childhood through early adulthood (l ate 20s) by means of a structured questionnaire. Participants' marijuana us e and the assumption of adult roles, including employment, marriage, parent hood, and living arrangements, were measured, and the data were analyzed wi th logistic regression analyses. A history of marijuana use was associated with an increased risk of adopting more unconventional adult roles, such as postponement of marriage, having a child out of wedlock, and unemployment. These results suggest that frequent prior marijuana use may adversely affe ct one's ability to successfully assume conventional adult roles. Furthermo re, controlling for earlier marijuana use, marriage during early adulthood significantly decreased the risk of later marijuana use.