Teen Marijuana Use Drops in Washington State

Washington State legalized recreational marijuana just over 6 years ago. Since then, the number of teens using marijuana has dropped. Teens in the 10^th grade have reduced their marijuana use from 20% to 18%.

Eighth graders saw a larger reduction in use from 10% to 7%, IFL Science says. The data comes from the Washington Healthy Youth Surveys and comparing it to Monitoring the Future surveys. The information is anonymous  and is gathered from students from 8^th, 10^th and 12 grades.

This study data was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

Use among 12^th graders has not changed.

The study authors said, “It is too soon to know the long-term influence that cannabis legalization will have on the prevalence of its use by youths.”

Study co-author Rosalie Liccardo Pacula said, “A variety of factors may influence the behavior of adolescents and those factors are likely to influence behaviors in different ways over time.”

Generally speaking though, younger teens are using marijuana less in Washington State.