About 1 in 9 U.S. adolescents use marijuana, and higher use tracks with more missed school and lower grades
Analysis of national survey data found that 11.4% of U.S. adolescents ages 12-17 use cannabis, with higher use linked to more missed school days and lower academic performance.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The pooled prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents ages 12-17 was 11.4% (95% CI: 10.70-12.20%). Cannabis use was slightly more common among females than males and among white, Hispanic, and Black adolescents. Higher marijuana use correlated with more skipped classes and lower grades. About 1 in 6 adolescents who try marijuana develop a use disorder.
Key Numbers
11.4% prevalence (95% CI: 10.70-12.20%); slightly higher in females; 1 in 10 users overall develop use disorder; 1 in 6 teen users develop addiction; higher use linked to more class skipping and lower grades
How They Did This
Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data, with age restricted to 12-17 year-olds. Compared cannabis users to non-users across gender, race, school attendance, and academic performance.
Why This Research Matters
With increasing THC potency and greater accessibility through legalization, understanding adolescent cannabis use patterns and their academic consequences is essential for prevention efforts.
The Bigger Picture
This adds to the evidence that adolescent cannabis use correlates with academic difficulties. The finding that 1 in 6 adolescent users may develop a use disorder is higher than the adult rate, consistent with the developmental vulnerability of the adolescent brain.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish whether cannabis causes academic problems or if other factors drive both. Self-reported data may undercount use. NSDUH methodology changes over time could affect prevalence estimates.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does the relationship between cannabis use and academic performance persist after controlling for socioeconomic factors?
- ?Are there differences in outcomes by frequency or potency of use?
- ?Would school-based screening reduce the 1-in-6 rate of teen cannabis use disorder?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 1 in 6 adolescents who try marijuana develop a use disorder
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: nationally representative survey data with large sample, but cross-sectional design and self-reported measures.
- Study Age:
- 2026 publication using NSDUH survey data.
- Original Title:
- The perils of marijuana use in adolescents.
- Published In:
- Journal of addictive diseases, 1-6 (2026)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08705
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is marijuana use among U.S. teens?
About 11.4% of adolescents ages 12-17 reported using cannabis, roughly 1 in 9. Use was slightly more common among females and among white, Hispanic, and Black adolescents.
Does teen marijuana use affect school performance?
This study found that higher marijuana use was associated with more missed school days and lower grades, though it cannot prove cannabis caused these outcomes.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08705APA
Ward, Savitra; Konda, Sanjana; Zhao, Daniel Zongliang; Ganti, Latha. (2026). The perils of marijuana use in adolescents.. Journal of addictive diseases, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2025.2589700
MLA
Ward, Savitra, et al. "The perils of marijuana use in adolescents.." Journal of addictive diseases, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2025.2589700
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The perils of marijuana use in adolescents." RTHC-08705. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ward-2026-the-perils-of-marijuana
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.