Teen Marijuana Use Plummets In Legalized States, National Data Confirms
By Javier Hasse via El Planteo
More than a decade after states began legalizing adult-use cannabis, fears about increased youth use have been definitively debunked by comprehensive studies and government surveys. The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and new national data from late 2024 confirm that teen cannabis use has dropped in 19 out of 21 states with before-and-after legalization data, contradicting concerns that regulated cannabis markets would lead to increased adolescent access or use.
“[L]egalization by some states of marijuana has not been associated with an increase in adolescents’ marijuana use,” National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow testified during a 2022 U.S. Senate Health Committee hearing.
These findings, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, and peer-reviewed research, highlight the role of strict regulations and age-gating in reducing teen cannabis consumption.
Key National Data: Teen Use Declines Post-Legalization
Both the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey and MTF survey data show substantial declines in youth cannabis use since 2011, with legalization expanding across the U.S.
- MTF Survey (2011–2024):
- 8th grade: 7.2% to 4.3% (-40%)
- 10th …