Teen cannabis use not rising as a result of marijuana legalization

Research pretty clearly shows that cannabis use is not optimal for brain development in teens. Steve Neavling of the Detroit Metro Times delivers the welcome news that although prohibitionists have long claimed that marijuana legalization would precipitate a rise in cannabis use among young people, a new federal report shows otherwise:

The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) surveyed high school students from 2009 to 2019 and found there’s “no measurable difference” in the rate of cannabis consumption.

About 22% of high school students reported using marijuana in the past 30 days in 2019, compared to 21% in 2009.

…“We are reassured by the latest results from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey because they show that youth marijuana use has not increased over the past decade, even as more states across the country have passed progressive marijuana laws,” said Sheila Vakharia, deputy director of the Department of Research & Academic Engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance. “These results affirm that we must continue to promote marijuana legalization and regulation for its public health and community safety benefits, especially in regards to limiting youth access.”

More at the Metro Times and definitely dig into the NCES report if you’re looking for granular data on age, race & other factors.

photo credit: Cannabis in the Sun by David Baker Esq.