CLEVELAND — A recent research project done by The Ohio State University Drug Enforcement and Police Center seeks to learn more on how Ohio principals feel the legalization of recreational marijuana could impact schools and students. As part of the study, responses from more than 200 school principals were collected.
One of the team's key findings is that more than 40% of principals agreed that marijuana consumption by students was already a problem before recreational product was legalized. While it may not be surprising that 79% of high school principals agreed this was the case, roughly 18% of elementary school principals agreed it is a problem, too.
The study found more than 50% of school principals in Ohio agreed that marijuana legalization is likely to lead to more of their students using marijuana. Additionally, The majority of principals agreed that the legalization of recreational marijuana will make travel to school less safe for their students.
When it comes to what may be done to prevent increased marijuana usage by students, researchers found most principals agreed they are likely to increase marijuana-specific prevention education.
"They really want to increase the number of training or prevention education for their students and increase the awareness of students in terms of the harms of marijuana use by young people," said The Ohio State University DEPC Administrative Director Jana Hrdinova.
When it comes to school actions that remain to be seen, drug testing appears to be one of those. The study found that nearly half of high school and middle school principals responded by saying they were unsure if they would introduce more drug testing at their schools.
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