Teen cannabis use continues to decline in the US

For years, one of the main arguments used by opponents of cannabis legalization in the United States was the possibility of an increase in use among teenagers. But the latest numbers released by the United States government continue to point in a different direction. As more US states regulate adult use of the plant, teen cannabis use continues to decrease.

The data are part of the latest edition of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a survey conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a federal agency responsible for monitoring indicators of mental health and substance use in the country. 

According to the survey, published by the American Hospital Association, 8.7% of adolescents between 12 and 17 years old reported using cannabis in the past year, a percentage lower than the 14.2% recorded in 2011, prior to the start of adult-use legalization in US states.

The results bring back into discussion the relationship between regulatory policies and underage consumption, a topic that has accompanied the international debate on cannabis for over a decade.

Teen cannabis use shows continuous decline

According to the website Marijuana Moment, which reported on the federal data, the observed reduction among adolescents occurs precisely in a period when legal access to cannabis for adults expanded significantly in the United States.

Although use of the plant has increased among adults, especially among people aged 26 or older, the same trend was not observed among teens.

The survey also shows that:

• 8.7% of youth aged 12 to 17 used cannabis in the past year;
• in 2011, this percentage was 14.2%;
• among adults, consumption showed growth over recent years.

According to Marijuana Moment, these numbers contradict predictions frequently put forward by anti-legalization groups, which associated regulation with increased use among minors.

SAMHSA study tracks national trends

The study is conducted by SAMHSA, an agency linked to the US federal government that annually monitors indicators related to mental health, substance use, and access to treatment.

In addition to evaluating teen cannabis use, the survey tracks the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, allowing trends to be compared over the years.

According to the report, cannabis remains the most widely used illicit substance among the US population. In 2025, about 61.6 million people aged 12 or older reported past-year use, representing 21.2% of the population in that age group. The growth, however, was driven primarily by adults.

Among users, smoking continues to be the main form of consumption, followed by edibles, beverages, vaporizers, and concentrates.

Teen cannabis use aligns with trend observed in other studies

The results now released by SAMHSA align with previous studies conducted by US federal institutions.

According to Marijuana Moment, national surveys such as Monitoring the Future (MTF), supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), also identified stability or reductions in consumption among middle and high school students, even with the expansion of state laws regulating adult cannabis use.

Another survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cited by the outlet, pointed to a reduction in the proportion of high school students reporting recent cannabis use over the past decade.

The federal survey also mentions studies conducted in Canada following national cannabis regulation, which observed similar behavior among youth.

Data expands debate on regulation

The release of the new numbers comes at a time of transformation in policies related to teen cannabis use in the United States.

Currently, dozens of US states already permit medical use of the plant, while some have also regulated adult consumption. In parallel, changes to federal legislation regarding cannabis scheduling remain under discussion.

Read Also - Cannabis in youth: what science says about recreational use in teens and young adults

Although experts emphasize that adolescents should not use cannabis without medical indication and proper supervision, federal data shows that expanding regulation for adults was not accompanied by an increase in use among minors.

According to Marijuana Moment, various studies published in recent years have arrived at the same conclusion: so far, there is no consistent evidence that adult-use legalization has caused an increase in teen cannabis use.

The new edition of the SAMHSA survey reinforces this scenario by recording the lowest proportion of teens reporting cannabis use since the expansion of state regulation policies began.

To follow other studies on the impacts of cannabis on health, behavior, and public policy, check out Portal Sechat's reports on scientific research, regulation, and cannabinoid medicine.

Source: content originally published by Marijuana Moment.