Marginalized youth are far more likely to use cannabis regularly | Research

The takeaway

Regular cannabis use was nearly 14 times higher among 8th graders with multiple marginalized identities compared to the overall 8th grade population.

Youth prevention program designers, school health professionals, and researchers studying health disparities.

24.8% regular use in most marginalized 8th-grade subgroup vs 1.8% overall

What the researchers found

24.8% of 8th graders who identified as American Indian/Alaska Native or multiracial, gay/lesbian/bisexual/queer, and living in high poverty reported regular cannabis use, compared to 1.8% of 8th graders overall.

Why it matters

Prevention programs often treat all youth the same, but this study shows that cannabis use clusters dramatically at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, suggesting targeted approaches are needed.

The numbers in context

82,933 students surveyed. 3.8% reported regular use (3+ times in 30 days). 11th graders: 7.8%. 8th graders: 1.8% overall but 24.8% among the most marginalized subgroup. Attitudes were generally not supportive of use.

How the study worked

Analysis of 82,933 8th, 9th, and 11th graders from the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey, using CHAID modeling to identify how combinations of five social positions related to cannabis use and attitudes.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional survey from one US state cannot establish causation. Self-reported data may underestimate use. Small cell sizes for some intersectional subgroups limit precision.

How to read the evidence

Large representative state survey with sophisticated intersectional analysis, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, data from 2022.

The bigger picture

This research adds to growing evidence that substance use disparities reflect structural inequalities rather than individual choices, and that effective prevention must address the conditions driving use.

Questions still open

Would targeted prevention addressing structural factors be more effective than universal programs? Do these intersectional patterns hold outside Minnesota?

Common questions

Are certain groups of teenagers more likely to use cannabis?

Yes. This study found that regular cannabis use was dramatically concentrated among youth with multiple marginalized social positions, including racial minority, LGBQ+, and low-income identities.

Why might marginalized youth use cannabis more?

The researchers suggest cannabis may serve as a coping mechanism for dealing with oppression, and that prevention should address structural causes rather than focusing only on individual behavior.

Read the original research

Regular cannabis use and promotive attitudes among diverse adolescents in the United States: The role of age and intersecting social positions.

Drug and alcohol dependence, 276, 112851

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Eisenberg, Marla E; Watson, Ryan J; Pieczykolan, Lauren L; Gower, Amy L. (2025). Regular cannabis use and promotive attitudes among diverse adolescents in the United States: The role of age and intersecting social positions.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 276, 112851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112851