Teen Marijuana Use Continues To Drop As More States Legalize, Federally Funded Study Shows, Contradicting Opponents’ Claims

Youth Marijuana Use Declines Despite Increased Legalization, Federally Funded Survey Finds

A 2024 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that rates of marijuana use among teens are continuing to decline, even as more states legalize cannabis for adult use.

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This trend counters longstanding concerns that legalization would lead to increased youth consumption.

Key Findings

1. Decline in Cannabis Use Among 12th Graders:

   • 25.8% of 12th graders reported using cannabis in the past year, down from 29.0% in 2023.

   • Usage among 8th graders (7.2%) and 10th graders (15.9%) remained stable.

2. Stable Vaping Trends and Decline in Smoking:

   • Rates of vaping cannabis have plateaued across all grades.

   • Reports of smoking cannabis as a consumption method have declined.

3. Perception of Risk and Access:

   • More teens believe marijuana use carries a "great risk."

   • The perception of easy access to marijuana among teens has significantly decreased.

4. Delta-8 THC Use Monitored:

   • 2.9% of 8th graders and 7.9% of 10th graders reported using delta-8 THC products in the past year.

Expert Reactions and Insights

• Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director:"This unprecedented trend shows a continued reduction in substance use among teenagers. We need to explore factors contributing to this lowered risk to develop tailored interventions that sustain this positive shift."

• Marsha Lopez, NIDA Chief of Epidemiological Research:"The data clearly indicate that youth are not using more marijuana. In fact, they're using less, despite concerns raised by legalization opponents."

• Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director:"These findings demonstrate that legalizing marijuana for adults can be done safely without inadvertently influencing youth habits."

Advocates’ Perspective

Legalization advocates argue that regulated cannabis markets for adults—with safeguards such as ID checks—deter youth access. Findings from this survey and others reinforce their position:

• A separate NIDA-funded study in 2022 found no association between state-level legalization and increased youth cannabis use.

• Studies in Massachusetts and across Canada revealed stable or decreased use among teens post-legalization.

Contrary to Opponents’ Claims

Critics of legalization often claim that legal cannabis will normalize use and increase availability for teens. However, evidence from surveys such as the MTF, CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and others consistently shows:

• A decline in youth cannabis use over the past decade.

• Lower rates of cannabis initiation among adolescents.

Conclusion

The MTF findings highlight a significant public health achievement: legalization of cannabis for adult use does not lead to increased youth consumption. Instead, the implementation of secure, regulated marketplaces and robust public education campaigns appears to contribute to these encouraging trends.

As legalization expands across the U.S., these insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to protect youth while accommodating adult use