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The DEA has officially acknowledged that youth cannabis use has significantly declined over the last three decades, directly challenging the long-standing claim that state-level legalization would lead to a surge in teen consumption. According to data from the agency’s “Just Think Twice” platform, past-year usage rates among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders dropped substantially between 1995 and 2025. Proponents of legalization attribute this trend to the transition from illicit markets to age-gated, regulated retailers and the implementation of state-funded public education initiatives.
Despite these findings, the DEA continues to hold a rigid position. In the same educational materials, the agency doubled down on traditional talking points, linking the plant to mental health issues and impaired driving, while continuing to use unconventional outreach methods like “drug emoji” guides. This acknowledgment of declining use comes as the agency remains under pressure to finalize the federal rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Read the original article.
Referenced article written by . Published March 18, 2026 by Marijuana Moment.
