Global Meta-Analysis: 29% of Medical Students Have Tried Cannabis at Least Once

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.

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.

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 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.

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.