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This is The Drug Report’s Friday Fact report - Past-Month Marijuana Use Increased among 18–25-year-olds in the First States that Legalized Marijuana

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is the nation’s premier survey that assesses the prevalence of substance use and substance use disorder. Though the NSDUH’s national estimates are often cited, it also provides state-level estimates that can shed light on the impact of the legalization of recreational marijuana.

The prevalence of past-month marijuana use among 18–25-year-olds has increased in the first four states that legalized recreational marijuana: Colorado and Washington legalized during the 2012 election cycle and Alaska and Oregon legalized in the 2014 cycle. Past-month use––as opposed to lifetime or past-year use––is indicative of heavier, more frequent use. Marijuana is also not legal for use until age 21, meaning many of these individuals are underage users.

The NSDUH reported increases in the prevalence of past-month marijuana use among 18–25-year-olds in these states between 2013–2014 and 2021–2022: 

• Washington 

  • 24.47% to 30.93% 

• Alaska 

  • 15.04% to 33.33% 

• Colorado 

  • 31.24% to 34.67% 

• Oregon 

  • 24.85% to 35.24% 

The prevalence of past-month marijuana use has increased in the first states that legalized recreational marijuana. For the sake of comparison, we can also look at changes in neighboring states that have not legalized recreational marijuana:

• Utah 

  • 11.55% to 17.06% 

• Nebraska

  • 16.19% to 18.72%

• Wyoming 

  • 16.00% to 19.46% 

• Idaho

  • 14.28% to 21.57%

• Kansas 

  • 15.11% to 21.88% 

While 30–35% of 18–25-year-olds in the first states that legalized recreational marijuana were past-month users of marijuana in 2021–2022, this was closer to 18–22% in the states that have not legalized marijuana. This trend is especially concerning for the 18–25-year-old demographic, given that their brains are developing. The CDC warns, “The teen brain is actively developing and continues to develop until around age 25. Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood may harm the developing brain.” 

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.