Majority of online marijuana dispensaries in the US allow children to purchase drug without proper age verification

A study shows that most online marijuana dispensaries in the US do not have proper age verification.

But researchers in New York City found that only half of popular online stores require government ID, while others only ask for self-reported dates of birth.

About one in five offer delivery across state lines, even if the recipient lived in a state where cannabis was illegal.

The authors wrote in the paper: “Pediatricians and healthcare providers should be aware of the widespread availability of online pharmacies and the potential distribution of marijuana to minors.”

In the paper, the authors wrote: ‘Pediatricians and healthcare providers should be aware of the widespread availability of online pharmacies and the potential spread of marijuana to minors’ (stock image)

It comes despite scientists warning of its potential harm to adolescents and young adults, saying it can harm brain development, harm academic performance and be a gateway drug to stronger substances.

Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), previously told DailyMail.com that young people should avoid the drug completely until their brains are fully developed.

Surveys show that six percent of twelfth graders use marijuana daily.

For the new study, published today in JAMA Pediatricsresearchers from the Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York searched online for digital cannabis pharmacies.

They used Google search terms like “buy marijuana online” and “order weed online” to find the most popular dispensaries.

Each website was then analyzed for age restrictions for viewing products and making a purchase. The survey was conducted from April to June this year.

Of the 80 online pharmacies in the 32 states they identified, researchers said only 40 of them required government-issued ID for age verification.

Eight of them relied on self-reported dates of birth, while one each used an age verification website or an address proving place of residence.

Three used a selfie photo to confirm someone’s age.

The scientists said 15 sites made no formal attempt to verify a person’s age while purchasing marijuana.

Of the sites, 50 also sold edibles in colorful packaging, which researchers warned could be attractive to minors. In the past, doctors have warned that they have also found packaging that disguised edibles as similar to Doritos or Gushers, making them attractive to children.

The names of the sites were not disclosed, but at least one was located in a state where pot sales are not legal: North Carolina.

The above shows cannabis use in US states. Twenty-one states and DC have legalized it for recreational use in addition to medicinal use, while almost all states now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes

The researchers, led by pediatrician Ananya Terala, wrote in the paper: ‘This cross-sectional study found that most online marijuana dispensaries did not have adequate age verification features and most accepted untraceable payment methods, allowing young people to hide their transactions .

“Despite regulations, the availability of marijuana products apparently remains high, exacerbated by the potential for shipping across state lines.

“It is imperative to require strict age verification procedures prior to online cannabis purchases and to strictly monitor online marijuana dispensaries to protect youth.

Most recently, in June, Minnesota became the 24th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use for people over the age of 21. The law will come into effect next year.

But there are now signs of a backlash across the country – with Oklahoma, North and South Dakota and Arkansas all rejecting legalization of the drug in the past year. Only six states ban the drug completely.

In states where the drug has been given the green light, parents have come forward to warn that it is nothing like the ‘Woodstock weed’ used in the hippie movement of the 1980s and is now much stronger.

It comes amid reports that the legal marijuana industry is on the “brink of collapse” after being crippled by high prices and a booming illegal pot market.