A Decline in Marijuana Use by Students in 2021

A recent trend in research shows students marijuana use decreased in the United States, since the early 2000s. In 2016, teen marijuana use went from 47% in the 1970s to 44%. According to the CDC, in 2019 the percent of students that reported marijuana use dropped to 37% with 225 still using marijuana in the last 30 days. In addition, the CDC reported that 8% of 8^th graders, 19% of 10^th graders, and 22% of 12^th graders vaped marijuana.

Data from the University of Michigan report the Monitoring the Future Survey confirms the trend of decreasing marijuana use among teens in the United States. Their data shows that a 38% year-over-year reduction in students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade. While 17 states legalized marijuana according to the American Addiction Center marijuana use did not increase.

While marijuana use is clearly decreasing, the fact that students are still using it means we must continue educating our kids about its potential dangers. Marijuana adversely affects teens neurological development causing trouble with learning and retaining information. The CDC reported that marijuana use can cause teens to acquire difficulty with thinking, problem-solving, memory, and learning. It also causes the loss of coordination and reduces one’s ability to maintain attention. The CDC links heavy marijuana use to depression, anxiety, and early onset psychosis. The DEA reported that heavy marijuana use can reduce IQ by up to 8 points.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana use causes cross-sensitization, which enhances the brain’s response to other drugs. The use of marijuana in conjunction with other drugs can lead to harder drug use. However, there is no evidence that marijuana use by itself leads to increased use of harder drugs. Marijuana destroys students’ brains; cause severe neurological and psychological problems.  It is extremely important that parents take an active role in talking with their children about marijuana use.