REPORT: Youth cannabis use has not increased with legalization

A new federal report has confirmed what we at the Marijuana Policy Project have been saying for years: legalizing and regulating cannabis does not lead to an increase in youth use. In fact, it often does the opposite.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), youth cannabis use has remained stable — and in many cases declined — even as more states have legalized marijuana for adults. Between 2021 and 2024:

• Past-year marijuana use among 18–25-year-olds dropped from 19.2% to 16.7%.
• Multiple states that legalized during this period, such as Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, and New York, saw no spike in underage use.

Other research backs this up:

Teen cannabis use in Colorado has fallen by 42% since legalization in 2012, according to the state’s Department of Public Health, and a broader national review found that 19 legalization states saw youth marijuana use decrease — often by double digits.

By replacing the underground market with a regulated system that checks IDs and enforces age requirements, we can keep cannabis out of the hands of minors far more effectively than prohibition ever could.

But with 26 states and the federal government maintaining the broken approach of prohibition and criminalization, our fight is far from over. Many states still cling to outdated prohibition laws that waste resources, criminalize responsible adults, and leave the market unregulated — making it easier, not harder, for teens to get cannabis. 

The facts are on our side, and now is the time to push harder than ever for full legalization across the country. Every new legalization victory means more safety, more justice, and more freedom.