High school marijuana use has fallen to its lowest level on record, according to new federal data that undercuts a core argument against adult legalization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released results Monday from its biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey showing that 12.9 percent of U.S. high school students currently use cannabis. The figure marks a significant decline from previous years and continues a downward trend that has persisted even as 24 states have legalized adult-use marijuana.
The data arrives as federal lawmakers debate rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, with legalization opponents frequently citing youth access concerns. But the numbers tell a different story.
The Numbers
The 12.9 percent rate represents the lowest youth marijuana use since CDC began tracking the metric in its current form. The decline is particularly notable given that roughly half of U.S. states now permit adult cannabis sales through licensed retailers.
Previous iterations of the survey showed higher rates of teen use during prohibition. The steady decrease suggests that regulated markets may actually reduce youth access compared to illicit sales, where dealers don't check identification.
State-level data from early-legalizing jurisdictions like Colorado and Washington has shown similar patterns. Those states implemented strict age verification requirements and penalties for sales to minors as part of their regulatory frameworks.
Industry Response
Cannabis industry advocates have long argued that regulation creates barriers to youth access that don't exist in illegal markets. Licensed dispensaries face severe penalties for selling to minors, including license revocation and criminal charges.
"Regulated businesses have every incentive to prevent youth sales," said Morgan Fox, political director at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "Black market dealers don't card."
The data also contradicts predictions made by legalization opponents during state ballot campaigns. Groups fighting legalization measures routinely warn that youth use will spike if adults can purchase cannabis legally.
But the CDC findings align with previous research. A 2021 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found no increase in youth marijuana use in states that legalized adult sales. Some jurisdictions even saw decreases.
What's Next
The survey results could influence ongoing federal policy debates. The Drug Enforcement Administration is currently reviewing a Health and Human Services recommendation to move marijuana to Schedule III, which would acknowledge medical benefits while maintaining federal prohibition on recreational use.
Opponents of rescheduling, including some law enforcement groups, argue that any policy change sends the wrong message to young people. The CDC data suggests that state-level legalization hasn't produced that effect.
Congressional committees have also cited youth access concerns when blocking broader reform legislation. The new numbers may shift those conversations as lawmakers consider bills like the SAFER Banking Act, which would give cannabis businesses access to traditional financial services.
The next Youth Risk Behavior Survey is scheduled for 2025. Researchers will have even more state-level legalization data to analyze by then, as additional jurisdictions have approved adult-use programs since the current survey period.
Public health officials continue to recommend that adolescents avoid marijuana use due to potential impacts on brain development. But the declining rates suggest that legal regulation doesn't increase the behavior that prohibition was meant to prevent.
This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.
