Federal Health Official Says Teens Are Finding It Harder To Access Marijuana Even As Legalization Spreads, Contrary To Opponents’ Fears

OG article by Kyle Jaeger

January 14, 2026

The latest Monitoring the Future survey, backed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and run by the University of Michigan, shows stable cannabis use among youth from 2024 to 2025 with no significant increases. NIDA's Marsha Lopez reported declining perceptions of marijuana availability for teens overall. Students in grades 8, 10, and 12 increasingly view occasional use as risky, reversing prior harm-perception drops, and showed rising disapproval. For 12th graders, past-year use held at 25.7% (lowest since 1992), past-month at 17.1% (well below 1978's 37.1%). Tenth graders reported 15.6% past-year and 9.4% past-month; eighth graders 7.6% and 4%. Medical-use reports stayed low. NIDA Director Nora Volkow noted encouragement that adolescent drug use remains low and many teens abstain. Amid spreading state legalization, the findings counter claims of youth access spikes. The survey expanded questions on hemp-derived products as laws evolve.