As cannabis becomes more accepted across the US, new research highlights a surprising trend: while overall cannabis use continues to rise, teenagers appear to be resisting this shift. With more states embracing legalization and decriminalization, the data suggests that cannabis consumption patterns vary significantly across different age and demographic groups.
Cannabis Use on the Rise
Cannabis is the most popular psychoactive substance in the US, with approximately 200 million people using it worldwide. Changes in public perception, as well as state-level legislation, have made cannabis more socially accepted, leading to an increase in use since 2013. Researchers have found that in the US, cannabis use has been growing steadily, especially in adult populations.
The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville conducted a study examining data from over 500,000 individuals across the US. The data was collected between 2013 and 2019, and again from 2021 to 2022, as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, data from 2020 was not included in the analysis, but the overall trends remained consistent.
The study found that cannabis use has been increasing among various age groups and demographic segments. However, one group that has remained steady in their cannabis use is teenagers, a trend that sets them apart from their older counterparts.
Teenagers Are Bucking the Trend
Despite the overall rise in cannabis use across the US, the study revealed that teenagers’ use of cannabis has not changed significantly over time. The data indicates that while the legal landscape around cannabis has shifted, with dispensaries opening in many states, teenagers remain relatively unaffected by these changes.
There are several possible explanations for this. Firstly, the study categorized all teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 into a single group, making it difficult to assess any potential differences between younger and older teens. Breaking down this age group further could reveal more nuanced insights.
Additionally, strict regulations on recreational cannabis sales may play a role. Dispensaries are prohibited from selling cannabis to individuals under the age of 21, a law that appears to be largely enforced. This legal barrier may have helped to keep cannabis out of the hands of younger people, even as access for adults has increased.
Who Is Using More Cannabis?
While teenagers are bucking the trend, young adults aged 18 to 25 are leading the increase in cannabis consumption. According to the study, individuals in this age range had significantly higher odds of using cannabis compared to other groups.
Cannabis use has also risen among adults aged 26 to 64. In particular, Hispanic and non-Hispanic White respondents saw a notable increase in usage during the study period. Although cannabis use was not higher in these groups compared to non-Hispanic Black and multiracial individuals, the rise is noteworthy, especially among Hispanic respondents.
Another interesting finding from the study is that people with higher socioeconomic status are increasingly using cannabis. The number of college-educated individuals and people from higher-income households consuming cannabis has risen significantly since 2013. For example, in 2013, only 4 percent of people with a college degree reported using cannabis, but by 2022, this figure had nearly tripled to 13 percent. Similarly, cannabis use in households earning $75,000 or more increased from 6 percent in 2013 to 13 percent in 2022.
What’s Next?
The rise in cannabis use among adults has led researchers to call for more studies into why this increase is happening. While some individuals use cannabis for medicinal purposes, there are still concerns about its potential negative effects. Researchers have noted that additional efforts are needed to understand the reasons behind the increasing usage, particularly in groups that are considered more at risk for its adverse effects.
The study does have its limitations, including the fact that the data was self-reported, which can lead to bias. Furthermore, it did not explore factors such as sexual orientation, as this data was not collected in the earlier years of the study. Despite these limitations, the findings provide valuable insights into how cannabis use is evolving across the country.
Conclusion
While cannabis use continues to rise across the US, teenagers remain an outlier, showing little change in their consumption patterns. As legalization and decriminalization progress, it’s essential to understand the demographic factors that contribute to these trends. With more people using cannabis, especially among young adults and those in higher-income households, the need for targeted educational campaigns becomes more critical. These campaigns should address both the therapeutic benefits and potential risks associated with cannabis use, particularly for vulnerable populations.
As the conversation around cannabis continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends develop in the coming years.
