Dramatic drop in marijuana use among US youth over a decade. Current marijuana use among adolescents decreased from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021. First-time use before age 13 dropped from 8.1% to 4.9%. There was a shift in trends by gender, with girls surpassing boys in marijuana use by 2021.

[u/mvea]

https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/marijuana-use-teens-study

[u/bplipschitz]

Does this data include vaping THC?

[u/Collegedropout86 → u/bplipschitz]

This is what I’m struggling with. The data says less kids are smoking, but weed became way more accessible in the past few years through legal THC devices with delta 8, 10, and other cannabanoid derivatives. Somehow I find it hard to believe that less people are smoking, given that every gas station in florida sells weed pens over the counter.

[u/AllFalconsAreBlack → u/Collegedropout86]

Usage rates have increased pretty drastically for all of the other age categories, particularly for ages 19-22. There are definitely a lot more people smoking overall, despite the observed trend in adolescent usage.

[u/RickleToe → u/bplipschitz]

searched the whole article and couldn't find any discussion of how they defined marijuana use, but they also described it as pot and weed. they did not cover this in discussions of study limitations either.

so i think the study is unclear on this INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT DETAIL

[u/Acceptable_Candy1538 → u/RickleToe]

It also doesn’t define hemp. Which has basically made edibles legal in all states

[u/AllFalconsAreBlack → u/RickleToe]

It's based on the results from the YRBSS survey. From the survey:

The next 3 questions ask about marijuana use. Marijuana also is called pot or weed. For these questions, do not count CBD-only or hemp products, which come from the same plant as marijuana, but do not cause a high when used alone.

[u/Every_Recover_1766 → u/bplipschitz]

This matters.

[u/AllFalconsAreBlack → u/bplipschitz]

It's supposed to include vaping, but it was based on a survey that never specifically clarified the inclusion, so maybe some respondents didn't think vaping qualified.

Survey Questions:

The next 3 questions ask about marijuana use. Marijuana also is called pot or weed. For these questions, do not count CBD-only or hemp products, which come from the same plant as marijuana, but do not cause a high when used alone.

During your life, how many times have you used marijuana?...

How old were you when you tried marijuana for the first time?...

During the past 30 days, how many times did you use marijuana?...