A meta-analysis of 109 studies across 32 countries found 29.2% lifetime cannabis prevalence among medical students, with rates declining from the 1970s through the 2000s before rebounding in the 2020s.
Medical educators, public health researchers, medical students
29.2% lifetime prevalence across 62,444 medical students globally
What the researchers found
Across 62,444 medical students from 32 countries, lifetime cannabis prevalence was 29.2%, past-year 20.5%, past-month 9.2%, and past-week 5.1%. Prevalence declined from 38.4% in the 1970s to 18.1% in the 2000s, then rebounded to 30.4% in the 2020s, driven by increases in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Why it matters
Medical students represent a population that will eventually counsel patients about cannabis. Understanding their own use patterns and how those have shifted over five decades provides context for how the medical profession interfaces with cannabis culture.
The numbers in context
109 studies; 62,444 participants; 32 countries; lifetime prevalence 29.2%; Anglo-Saxon America highest at 59.7%; Asia lowest at 11.5%; 2020s rebound to 30.4%.
How the study worked
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 109 observational studies published 1971-2025, identified from six databases. Data pooled using random-effects models with subgroup analyses by gender, study cycle, school type, decade, and world region.
What this study cannot tell us
Heterogeneity across 109 studies spanning five decades and 32 countries. Self-reported use subject to underreporting, especially in regions with strict prohibition. Different survey instruments and definitions of use across studies.
How to read the evidence
Large meta-analysis spanning decades and continents, though limited by heterogeneity in underlying studies and self-report bias.
When this study was published
2025 publication covering studies from 1971-2025
The bigger picture
The rebound in medical student cannabis use during the 2020s, particularly in regions where legalization or decriminalization is expanding, parallels broader population trends. The wide regional variation (11.5% in Asia vs. 59.7% in Anglo-Saxon America) highlights how cultural and legal contexts shape use patterns.
Questions still open
- Does personal cannabis experience among medical students influence their clinical attitudes toward medical cannabis?
- What is driving the 2020s rebound in medical student cannabis use in Latin America, Asia, and Africa?
Common questions
How common is cannabis use among medical students?
Is cannabis use increasing among medical students?
Read the original research
Global temporal and regional trends in cannabis use among medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
Citation
Karpovisch, Eduardo; Alves, Gabriel Grando; Folgierini, Vicente Fichbein; Braun, Luiza Elizabete; Porto, Ighor Miron; Hoffmann, Mauricio Scopel; Pacheco, João Pedro Gonçalves. (2025). Global temporal and regional trends in cannabis use among medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999). https://doi.org/10.47626/1516-4446-2025-4286