Recent figures released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicate that cannabis use among young adults and teenagers in the United States continues to move downward, extending a trend that has been observed over the past several years.
The latest annual findings show declines in both monthly and yearly marijuana consumption among people aged 12 to 17, as well as those between 18 and 25. The report also points to fewer adolescents trying cannabis for the first time, suggesting that initiation rates are continuing to decrease.
Among teenagers, the share of respondents who said they had used cannabis within the previous month dropped by 22% over a three-year period (2022-2025). During the same period, reported use over the previous year declined by 25%. Officials noted that first-time experimentation with marijuana has also become less common within this age group.
Young adults experienced a similar, although less pronounced, decline. According to the report, past-month marijuana use among individuals aged 18 to 25 fell by 10% over the three-year period. Annual use also decreased, with the proportion of respondents reporting marijuana consumption during the previous year dropping by 12%.
Christopher D. Carroll, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at SAMHSA, said the findings suggest encouraging progress across several behavioral health measures. He added that young adults and adolescents have continued to show either improving or stable patterns in many key indicators during the last five years.
The latest federal data aligns with research produced by other organizations, including the University of Michigan and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those studies have also found that marijuana use among younger Americans has reached historically low levels.
In addition, an analysis published by the Marijuana Policy Project in 2025 concluded that youth cannabis consumption has fallen across nearly every state where recreational cannabis has been legalized.
While younger age groups are reporting reduced cannabis use, the picture is different for older Americans. Federal survey results indicate that adults aged 26 and above have shown increasing levels of self-reported cannabis use in recent years, with the largest growth occurring among older age groups.
Responding to the new figures, NORML’s Paul Armentano argued that the data challenges claims that legal recreational marijuana policies encourage greater use among teenagers. He said the findings demonstrate that carefully regulated cannabis laws can provide legal access for adults without leading to increased use among young people, adding that the results should give policymakers greater confidence when considering cannabis regulation.
As states legalize some form of marijuana use and allow companies like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) to operate, measures like age-verification conducted at dispensaries help to reduce the number of teens that access marijuana, hence triggering a reduction in self-reported marijuana use.
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