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This is The Drug Report’s Friday Fact report - Significant Rise in Marijuana Vape Use Among Youth

Report Highlights:

• A significant rise occurred over the years 2017 to 2023, with the following increases in prevalence: 

  • 8th Grade: An increase of 3.5%. 

  • 10th Grade: An increase of 5%. 

  • 12th Grade: An increase of 10.1%. 

• This trend is indicative of a growing problem that has seen a double-digit percentage increase in the oldest age group surveyed. 

• The data was collected by esteemed researchers Miech, R. A., Johnston, L. D., Patrick, M. E., O’Malley, P. M., & Bachman, J. G. (2023), and published as part of the Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, spanning the years 1975–2023. 

We must unite in our efforts to safeguard the well-being of our youth and prevent the long-term consequences of early drug exposure. We look forward to discussing how we can collectively address this issue. 

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. We are professionals working in mental health and public health. We are bipartisan. We are medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization. Our commonsense, third-way approach to marijuana policy is based on reputable science and sound principles of public health and safety.