A recent study revealed that marijuana use has been on the rise in the United States, though surprisingly not among young teens. The study, which analyzed the cannabis consumption habits of more than 500,000 people between 2013 and 2022, was published in the latest edition of Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports. It highlighted that marijuana use saw significant growth among individuals living in households with an annual income exceeding $75,000 and those holding college degrees.
Along with examining usage patterns over the previous 30 days, the study also looked at trends related to household income, age, gender, race, ethnicity and educational background. One unexpected outcome of the research was that cannabis use among teenagers did not increase.
The study grouped all teens aged 12 to 17 years of age together, which may have contributed to the stable numbers. The authors noted that some differences might exist if data on younger and older teens were examined separately. Notably, recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed a decrease in marijuana use among high school students, dropping from 23% in 2013 to 17% last year.
State-level cannabis legalization could likely be a factor in reducing teen marijuana use. Dispensaries are strictly prohibited from selling to individuals under the age of 21 and typically require ID scanning to verify age, which may reduce illegal purchases compared to liquor stores. Other factors could also be influencing teen behavior, such as the pandemic. According to the authors, there was a notable decline in cannabis use during the pandemic, possibly due to less peer interaction and more parental supervision.
Although marijuana use among teens has stayed steady or declined, the research showed a marked increase in usage among people at higher socioeconomic levels. Cannabis consumption increased by more than threefold among individuals with college degrees and those from higher-income households.
In 2013, only 4% of college-educated people reported using cannabis, but that number grew to nearly 13% by 2022. Similarly, among households earning more than $75,000 annually, marijuana use rose from 6% in 2013 to 13% in 2022.
This shift may be related to changing attitudes toward marijuana due to legalization. Cannabis has become more normalized, especially with endorsements from public figures, including celebrities and athletes. The increasing number of dispensaries in affluent neighborhoods and near universities may also be contributing to this trend.
The authors also suggested that improved access to medical marijuana could explain part of the rise in use among wealthier individuals.
Another notable finding from the study was that marijuana use was most prevalent among non-Hispanic multiracial individuals compared to other racial and ethnic groups, with more than 25% of this group reporting marijuana use in 2022.
This recorded drop in the number of teens using marijuana provides credence to what proponents of legalization indicated that creating a regulated market in which entities such as Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED) are allowed to operate would curb the use of this substance by underaged individuals.
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