Teen Cannabis Use Declines in the U.S.: How Has Legalization Impacted Youth?

Legalizing cannabis in the United States has been controversial for years. Supporters saw it as a chance to better control the market, increase tax revenues, and reduce crime related to the illegal trade. Opponents, on the other hand, warned that legalizing cannabis would lead to an increase in its use by young people. Their main argument was that legalization would make cannabis more accessible to teenagers and increase social acceptance of its use.

But data from the past decade suggests a very different trend. Despite cannabis legalization in many states, teen use has declined. A study recently published in Pediatric Reports shows that cannabis use among youth was significantly lower in 2021 than in 2011. This finding undermines earlier concerns about the negative impact of legalization on youth.

Decline in cannabis use among youth

According to a study published in Pediatric Reports , which tracked cannabis use among youth from 2011 to 2021, the percentage of teens who had ever tried cannabis dropped from 39.9% in 2011 to 27.8% in 2021. That’s a significant drop of more than 12 percentage points.

Equally impressive are the past-month cannabis use figures. In 2011, 23.1% of teens reported using cannabis in the past 30 days. By 2021, that number had dropped to 15.8%. What’s more, the decline has extended to very young users as well. The percentage of teens who tried cannabis before the age of 13 dropped from 8.1% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2021

This type of data undermines the arguments of opponents of legalization, who predicted that changing the legal status of cannabis would increase its consumption among young people.

Demographic trends

The decline in cannabis use has cut across demographic groups, underscoring the complexity of the phenomenon. The study noted racial, ethnic, and gender differences. For example, in 2021, black students reported higher cannabis use (20.5%) compared to whites (14.8%), Latinos (16.7%), and Asians (5.1%). Although all racial groups saw declines in cannabis use over the decade, these differences persisted throughout the study period.

One of the more interesting findings was a shift in trends by gender. In 2021, for the first time ever, girls were more likely to report cannabis use than boys. This is a reversal of the previous pattern that indicated boys were more likely to consume cannabis. The study authors suggest that this trend may be a result of changing social dynamics and greater gender integration in peer groups, with girls more likely to be offered cannabis by their peers.

In terms of age, the data shows that older students are more likely to use cannabis than younger ones. The highest rates of cannabis use were found among 12th graders, suggesting that the older teens are, the more access they have to cannabis, likely due to expanded peer networks and greater independence.

The importance of legalization

One key factor in the decline in teen cannabis use is the introduction of legalization for adults, which has reduced its availability to youth. An example is Washington State, where legalization for adults has made it more difficult for minors to access cannabis. Survey data from that state shows that youth had a lower perception of ease of access to cannabis following legalization, and rates of use have declined.

Other studies, such as those conducted in Canada, where cannabis was legalized in 2019, confirm a similar trend. Canada has seen a decline in cannabis use among youth, confirming that legalization may lead to better control of access to the substance by minors.

Cannabis Use Increases Among Adults, Declines Among Youth

One of the most interesting aspects of cannabis legalization in the United States is the contrast between the increase in adult use and the decrease in youth use. After adult use was legalized in many states, use among adult Americans reached historic levels. Reports indicate record increases in adult use, especially in states where recreational cannabis has been legalized.

However, despite the concerns of those opposed to legalization, youth cannabis use has declined. Studies such as those conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) confirm that cannabis legalization has not contributed to an increase in youth use. The data shows that not only have youth not increased their use of cannabis, but their use has decreased significantly compared to the years before legalization.

Interestingly, research also suggests that legalization has contributed to better control of access to cannabis. Adults who have legal access to the substance are less likely to engage in the black market, which translates into fewer opportunities for minors to purchase cannabis. Examples of such trends can be seen not only in the US but also in Canada, where the legalization of cannabisin 2019 had a similar effect – access to cannabis for youth became more difficult, and usage rates dropped.

Summary

The fears of cannabis legalization opponents that young people would start using it more often under the new regulations have proven unfounded. New data clearly shows that cannabis legalization in the US has not led to an increase in its use among teenagers – on the contrary, there has been a decrease in the use of the substance among young people.

The decline in cannabis use among youth is a positive trend that should be supported by continued educational and health policy efforts. As more states decide to legalize cannabis, it is crucial to not only monitor its impact on society, but also continue to research and public interventions that will help reduce the risk of its use by minors.

Strengthening educational programs and building positive social relationships, both in the family and in schools, are essential elements of the strategy that will allow this positive trend to continue. Cannabis may be legal for adults, but its use by youth must continue to be effectively restricted.

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(Featured image by Clear Cannabis via Unsplash)

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