Legalized Marijuana Linked to Decline in Teen Use Over the Past Decade
08/30/2024
Over the past decade, the narrative that legalizing marijuana would lead to a surge in adolescent use has been a cornerstone of opposition to cannabis reform. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that these concerns were unfounded. Recent data from federal surveys reveal that, contrary to the fears of critics, youth marijuana use has actually declined in states that have legalized and regulated the substance.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates a significant drop in adolescent cannabis use. From 2014 to 2023, the percentage of those aged 12 to 17 who reported ever trying marijuana fell by 18 percent. Additionally, those who reported using marijuana in the past year and those who currently use it decreased by 15 percent and 19 percent, respectively. These findings are echoed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which reported a 26 percent decline in high schoolers who identified as current cannabis users between 2013 and 2023.
These trends are further supported by research published in respected journals. A 2020 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that state-level legalization laws led to a small but significant decline in youth marijuana use. Similarly, JAMA Pediatrics published a study concluding that legalization might actually reduce marijuana use among youth, attributing this to the replacement of drug dealers with licensed dispensaries that enforce strict age verification protocols.
States like California and Colorado, which were among the first to legalize adult-use cannabis, have demonstrated that regulated markets can effectively limit youth access. In California, for instance, a study published in the Journal of Safety Research highlighted that licensed cannabis retailers achieved 100 percent compliance with ID policies designed to prevent underage sales.
These real-world outcomes challenge the notion that cannabis legalization leads to increased adolescent use. Instead, they affirm that sensible regulations can satisfy adult demand for cannabis while keeping it out of the hands of young people. The success of these policies has led to growing public support for legalization, with more voters in states like California and Colorado backing these measures now than when they were first introduced. Legalization, it appears, is not only effective but also preferable to prohibition.
Reference
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates a significant drop in adolescent cannabis use. From 2014 to 2023, the percentage of those aged 12 to 17 who reported ever trying marijuana fell by 18 percent. Additionally, those who reported using marijuana in the past year and those who currently use it decreased by 15 percent and 19 percent, respectively. These findings are echoed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which reported a 26 percent decline in high schoolers who identified as current cannabis users between 2013 and 2023.
These trends are further supported by research published in respected journals. A 2020 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that state-level legalization laws led to a small but significant decline in youth marijuana use. Similarly, JAMA Pediatrics published a study concluding that legalization might actually reduce marijuana use among youth, attributing this to the replacement of drug dealers with licensed dispensaries that enforce strict age verification protocols.
States like California and Colorado, which were among the first to legalize adult-use cannabis, have demonstrated that regulated markets can effectively limit youth access. In California, for instance, a study published in the Journal of Safety Research highlighted that licensed cannabis retailers achieved 100 percent compliance with ID policies designed to prevent underage sales.
These real-world outcomes challenge the notion that cannabis legalization leads to increased adolescent use. Instead, they affirm that sensible regulations can satisfy adult demand for cannabis while keeping it out of the hands of young people. The success of these policies has led to growing public support for legalization, with more voters in states like California and Colorado backing these measures now than when they were first introduced. Legalization, it appears, is not only effective but also preferable to prohibition.
Reference
