WASHINGTON (November 3, 2025) – As more states legalize recreational marijuana, a new paper from Tonya Dodge, associate professor of psychology at the George Washington University, warns that current marijuana regulations may leave adolescents vulnerable.
In her commentary, “Protecting Adolescent Health Requires Better Understanding of Recreational Marijuana Policies,” Dodge argues that not all recreational marijuana laws are created equal. She draws a distinction between supply-side policies (which regulate access through age limits, packaging, and licensing) and demand-side policies (which shape desirability through advertising and labeling restrictions). Current evaluations largely lump these together, masking which policy approaches actually protect youth, she says.
Her paper offers a framework for how researchers, clinicians, and parents can better evaluate and respond to these policies. For pediatricians, that means anticipating different clinical risks depending on whether a state’s laws are weak on access or marketing. For parents, it means understanding how marijuana branding can make products look “natural,” “healthy,” and appealing to teens.
With adolescent marijuana use holding steady, nearly 20% of youth report use in the past year, Dodge calls for stronger, better-targeted policies and for healthcare providers to play a more proactive role in counseling and advocacy.
Read the paper here. If you would like to schedule an interview with Professor Dodge, please contact Claire Sabin at claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-