Kids will be kids, and if you’ve ever been a teen, you probably remember having an occasional hankering for breaking rules and having fun — or maybe I’m projecting. One of the ways we had fun back in the early 2000s was smoking joints, even though we were underage and it was illegal. But now that weed is legal in several countries and U.S. states, are more teens using cannabis? Some people think yes, but the data says otherwise.
Are More Teenagers Using Legal Cannabis?
Despite fears, multiple data sources show U.S. teens aren’t using more cannabis since legalization. One of these sources is a 2020 article that compared Monitoring the Future (MTF) studies from California and Washington state. In Washington, monthly cannabis use dropped by 22% among 8th graders, 12.7% among 10th graders, and stayed the same for 12th graders after legalization.
In California, MTF data showed a 25% rise in past-30-day use among 12th graders during the years following cannabis decriminalization in the state. However, other state-level surveys did not confirm this trend. In fact, this increase wasn’t evident among younger students in California or among 12th graders nationwide. This suggests the MTF data could have been due to local variation or a sampling issue rather than a broader policy effect.
Even more eye-opening is a 2022 study that compared teen past-year use between 2002 and 2018 in Colorado and the rest of the U.S. Keep in mind that Colorado legalized cannabis in 2012, and according to the study:
- From 2002 to 2006, young adult use (ages 18–25) saw small increases, while teen use (ages 12–17) stayed flat across the U.S.
- From 2007 to 2012, use among 18–25-year-olds climbed steadily, especially in Colorado, while teen use remained stable or slightly declined.
- From 2013 to 2016, after legalization in Colorado, cannabis use among 18–25-year-olds rose sharply, but teen rates didn’t increase.
- From 2017 to 2019, cannabis use peaked among 18–25-year-olds in Colorado, reaching about 45–47%. During the same period, the U.S. average for that age group hit 33%, while teen use in both Colorado and the U.S. stayed steady at around 13–16%.
In summary, cannabis use among adolescents aged 12 to 17 has stayed relatively steady over the past two decades. During that time, most states legalized weed, and states like California and Colorado had only slight fluctuations in teen use. But overall, legalization hasn’t significantly increased the number of kids using cannabis.
What Led to Worries of Increased Cannabis Use Among Children?
Increased concern about more kids using weed isn’t entirely baseless. After all, legalization turned weed from a shady, taboo substance into something you can buy online or in stores. And it’s not just flower. Dispensaries and online shops now sell edibles, vapes, and dab pens. This wider availability has fueled worries that children now have easier access to the proverbial cookie jar.
These worries grew louder after reports of a sharp rise in accidental cannabis poisonings among young children in Canada. Most of these Canadian cases involved edible products, but Quebec avoided similar problems by banning cannabis-infused chocolates, gummies, and candies.
Similar spikes appeared in the early days of Colorado’s legalization, including among children under 12. More than half of these cases involving children came from edible exposures. Fortunately, the situation has improved because states have enforced child-resistant packaging and stricter rules on how edibles are sold.
Still, some argue that even these measures aren’t enough and that the only way to truly protect children is to keep cannabis illegal. Yet, strong evidence from multiple studies shows that teen use has not significantly increased as legalization spreads across the U.S.
Why Aren’t More Adolescents Using Legal Cannabis?
According to a Montana State University (MSU) study that surveyed high school students between 1993 and 2017, teens are less likely to use cannabis recreationally after legalization. This is because legal dispensaries, which require proof of age, won’t sell to them.
From anecdotes, we can also draw two theories as to why teen cannabis use hasn’t severely spiked after legalization. First is the Alcohol Paradox theory, which draws parallels with the MSU study. Simply put, now that weed is legal, it’s not as widely available on the streets.
Street dealers don’t want the risk of selling to kids, and dispensary products are out of reach since prices are above most teens’ budgets. On top of that, dispensaries take carding seriously. After all, one slip-up could cost them their license or even land them in jail. In other words, legalization may have flipped the script, making alcohol easier to access than cannabis for today’s teens.
Second is the Forbidden Fruit theory, which ties into teenagers’ natural urge to rebel. For those who once smoked weed to defy authority or feel rebellious, legalization has taken away some of its thrill and appeal. Redditor, Testiculese, said it best, “It always seems to work this way. Forbidden fruit and all that. I mostly stopped drinking for years after I turned 21 because I was allowed to now, and the thrill was gone.”
Why Is Non-Adults Using Cannabis a Problem?
Ethical and moral reasons aside, kids shouldn’t use cannabis primarily because of its effects on mental development. During your teenage years, your brain is still developing and won’t reach full maturity until around age 25. Using cannabis before your brain fully matures may stunt its growth, leading to long-term issues.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen cannabis use may cause:
- Difficulty thinking, maintaining attention, and problem-solving
- Problems with memory, learning, and coordination
A Columbia University study also suggests that teens who use cannabis recreationally may develop psychiatric disorders like depression and suicidality. This risk is higher in teens because their brains are still developing, especially in areas that control mood, decision-making, and impulse regulation. Regular cannabis use during this period could disrupt these processes and make adolescents more vulnerable to long-term mental health challenges.
What Measures Are in Place to Minimize Underage Cannabis Use
Since recreational cannabis isn’t safe for kids, the following legal safeguards are in place to reduce children’s access in marijuana-friendly states:
- Strict Age Limits: Only adults 21 and over can legally buy recreational cannabis. Dispensaries are required to check IDs.
- Child-Resistant Packaging: Products must come in packaging that’s hard for children to open, reducing the risk of accidental ingestion.
- Clear Labeling: Edibles and concentrates must include warning labels and dosage information to prevent confusion.
- Restrictions on Product Types: Some states ban cannabis-infused candies, gummies, or chocolates that could appeal to children. For example, Oregon, Massachusetts, Michigan, and California ban the packaging of cannabis products in a way that may lead to confusion with candy or food items that appeal to kids.
- Marketing Limits: Advertising that targets minors is illegal, and canna-brands can’t promote products near schools or playgrounds.
- Consequences for Sellers: Dispensaries caught selling to minors face heavy fines, license suspension or revocation, depending on the state. In California, the seller could face three to five years in jail plus fines and fees.
Public Health and Education Remain Crucial
Legalization has made cannabis less scary for many people, including kids who no longer see it as harmful or risky. This shift in perception is one of the biggest concerns for public health experts. Why? When teens think a substance is safe, they’re more likely to try it. And while available data suggests legalization hasn’t sparked a surge in youth use, the real danger lies in how attitudes are shifting.
That’s why education remains just as important as regulation. Schools, parents, and community programs should teach kids the real risks of teen cannabis use, such as its impact on brain development, memory, and mental health. Public health campaigns in states like Colorado and Washington already show promise, especially those that use straightforward messaging instead of scare tactics.
Parents also play a huge role. Teens are less likely to use cannabis when parents explain the consequences and talk openly about it. But that’s not enough. While licensed dispensaries won’t sell to kids, the black market is still wide open. That creates a bigger risk, since it not only exposes teens to criminal elements but also to cannabis from unregulated sources.
Unlike legal products that undergo testing for potency and contaminants, black market weed can contain harmful substances. And we aren’t just talking about pesticides or mold. Some unregulated products are cut with addictive substances like opioids or synthetic cannabinoids, which carry serious health risks. For teens, that means the black market bypasses age restrictions and exposes them to dangerous, addictive substances with unpredictable side effects.
As such, alongside public health campaigns and at-home conversations that teach kids about the risks of cannabis, we need stricter penalties for selling to minors. Put both measures in play, and we have a strategy and environment that’s more likely to keep kids safe.
