Prior research has shown that marijuana use in early adolescence may be associated with later life problems, such as unemployment, depression, drug and health problems, and difficulty at work or school. This study extended this earlier research on the consequences of early adolescent marijuana use using a sample of Columbian youth. Using data from a community-based longitudinal study, this study examined a relationship between early marijuana use and later problem behavior. The community-based sample included Columbian adolescents interviewed in 1995-1996 (T1) and 1997-1998 (T2). Relationships were examined between T1 adolescent marijuana use and T2 adolescent problem behaviors. Statistical controls included age, gender, ethnicity, and parental occupation, and the T1 level of the T2 dependent variable. The study supports and extends previous research in a number of ways: (1) consistent relationships were revealed between early marijuana use and later life functions; (2) the longitudinal research design enhanced the predictive value of the findings; and (3) the study sample comprised a large and diverse population of adolescents living in Columbia, where violence is endemic and drugs are readily available. The study provides important evidence in this cohort of the relationship between T1 adolescent marijuana use and T2 adolescent problem behavior in a society where drug use, crime, violence, and low educational attainment are pervasive. These findings imply that early adolescent marijuana use is associated with an increase in problem behavior during later adolescence. References