Adolescent Marijuana Use Dropped to Three-Decade Low
Teenagers are increasingly choosing not to start using marijuana, contributing to a significant national decline.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Teens
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By 2025, adolescent marijuana use in the United States fell to a three-decade low, as the share of students reporting current use dropped by roughly 60 percent over the past decade. This national downward trend coincides with falling rates of alcohol and tobacco use among teens.
Why it matters
The decline suggests a major shift in teen behavioral norms, as more adolescents are deciding to abstain from marijuana entirely rather than stopping after they have already started. This shift in habits may be linked to increased perceptions of risk among high school students.
A comprehensive analysis of national health surveys shows that past-year marijuana use among 12 to 17-year-olds fell to 8.7 percent in 2025, down from 10.9 percent in 2021. Researchers attributed 72 percent of this decline to teenagers never initiating use.
The players
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The national public health agency that conducts the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to monitor health-related behaviors in adolescents.
The details
Researchers categorized the falling usage rates into two primary behavioral shifts: initial abstention and desistance from established use. Analyses indicate that the majority of the decline—about 72 percent—is driven by teens who never begin using, while the remaining 28 percent results from reduced use among those who had already experimented. Concurrently, 39 percent of 12th graders reported believing that regular marijuana use carries great risk in 2025, up from 30 percent in 2019.
Timeline
2011: Cannabis use among Northern California teens was 10 percent.
2019: 30 percent of 12th graders perceived great risk in marijuana use.
2020-2025: Non-initiation accounted for the majority of the usage decline.
2024: Northern California teen cannabis use reached 6.5 percent.
2025: 39 percent of 12th graders perceived great risk in marijuana use.
Health Landscape
This decline follows the long-standing data trends captured by the Monitoring the Future survey regarding teen substance use. It reflects a broader, multi-year reduction in the consumption of various substances, including alcohol and tobacco, across the adolescent population.
These trends emphasize the importance of discussing risk perceptions and substance use prevention with your teen. If you have concerns about your child's behavior or social environment, start an open, non-judgmental conversation or consult a pediatrician for professional guidance.
The takeaway
The sustained decline in teen marijuana use is largely driven by a growing number of adolescents choosing not to initiate use at all. Parents should feel encouraged to continue age-appropriate conversations about substance use, as these trends indicate that abstinence remains a common peer norm.
Further reading
For more on adolescent wellness and health trends, explore our Teens section.
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Do you believe the decline in teen marijuana use indicates a positive shift in community norms?
