Marginalized youth are far more likely to use cannabis regularly
Regular cannabis use was nearly 14 times higher among 8th graders with multiple marginalized identities compared to the overall 8th grade population.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would targeted prevention addressing structural factors be more effective than universal programs?
- ?Do these intersectional patterns hold outside Minnesota?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 24.8% regular use in most marginalized 8th-grade subgroup vs 1.8% overall
- Evidence Grade:
- Large representative state survey with sophisticated intersectional analysis, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, data from 2022.
- Original Title:
- Regular cannabis use and promotive attitudes among diverse adolescents in the United States: The role of age and intersecting social positions.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 276, 112851 (2025)
- Authors:
- Eisenberg, Marla E(3), Watson, Ryan J(2), Pieczykolan, Lauren L, Gower, Amy L
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06392
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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 More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06392APA
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
MLA
Eisenberg, Marla E, et al. "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, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112851
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Regular cannabis use and promotive attitudes among diverse a..." RTHC-06392. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/eisenberg-2025-regular-cannabis-use-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.