Federally funded survey data compiled by the University of Michigan reports that teen marijuana use has declined significantly since states began regulating adult-use cannabis markets and is now at or near historic lows.
Consistent with numerous other federally sponsored surveys, teens’ use of cannabis has steadily declined since 2012 — when voters in Colorado and Washington passed ballot initiatives regulating the adult-use marijuana market. To date, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana use for those 21 and older.
Between 2012 and 2025, the percentage of 12th graders reporting having ever used cannabis fell 23 percent. Among 10th graders, it fell 35 percent. Among 8th graders, lifetime use fell 17 percent.
During that same time period, past-year cannabis use fell 30 percent among 12th graders, 44 percent among 10th graders, and 34 percent among 8th graders.
The percentage of teens reporting having consumed cannabis over the past 30 days also declined significantly — falling 25 percent among 12th graders, 45 percent among 10th graders, and 38 percent among 8th graders.
“We are encouraged that adolescent drug use remains relatively low and that so many teens choose not to use drugs at all,” said Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in a press release. “It is critical to continue to monitor these trends closely to understand how we can continue to support teens in making healthy choices and target interventions where and when they are needed.”
Between the years 2024 and 2025, cannabis use largely remained unchanged among 12th graders and 10th graders. Among 8th graders, the percentage of young people reporting past-month cannabis fell 25 percent. Those reporting past-year cannabis use fell 16 percent year over year, and those reporting lifetime cannabis use fell 12 percent.
Commenting on the latest federally sponsored survey data, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said, “Sensational claims that adult-use legalization laws are linked with greater marijuana use by teens are simply not backed by government data. These findings ought to reassure lawmakers that cannabis access can be legally regulated in a manner that is safe, effective, and that does not inadvertently impact young people’s habits.”
Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana Regulation and Teen Use Rates.’
