PROBLEM/CONDITION
In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2013, 7.5% (19.8 million) of the U.S. population aged ≥12 years reported using marijuana during the preceding month. Because of certain state-level policies that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, population-based data on marijuana use and other related indicators are needed to help monitor behavioral health changes in the United States.
PERIOD COVERED
2002-2014.
DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is a national- and state-level survey of a representative sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged ≥12 years. NSDUH collects information about the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; initiation of substance use; frequency of substance use; substance dependence and abuse; perception of substance harm risk or no risk; and other related behavioral health indicators. This report describes national trends for selected marijuana use and related indicators, including prevalence of marijuana use; initiation; perception of harm risk, approval, and attitudes; perception of availability and mode of acquisition; dependence and abuse; and perception of legal penalty for marijuana possession.
RESULTS
In 2014, a total of 2.5 million persons aged ≥12 years had used marijuana for the first time during the preceding 12 months, an average of approximately 7,000 new users each day. During 2002-2014, the prevalence of marijuana use during the past month, past year, and daily or almost daily increased among persons aged ≥18 years, but not among those aged 12-17 years. Among persons aged ≥12 years, the prevalence of perceived great risk from smoking marijuana once or twice a week and once a month decreased and the prevalence of perceived no risk increased. The prevalence of past year marijuana dependence and abuse decreased, except among persons aged ≥26 years. Among persons aged ≥12 years, the percentage reporting that marijuana was fairly easy or very easy to obtain increased. The percentage of persons aged ≥12 reporting the mode of acquisition of marijuana was buying it and growing it increased versus getting it for free and sharing it. The percentage of persons aged ≥12 years reporting that the perceived maximum legal penalty for the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in their state is a fine and no penalty increased versus probation, community service, possible prison sentence, and mandatory prison sentence.
INTERPRETATION
Since 2002, marijuana use in the United States has increased among persons aged ≥18 years, but not among those aged 12-17 years. A decrease in the perception of great risk from smoking marijuana combined with increases in the perception of availability (i.e., fairly easy or very easy to obtain marijuana) and fewer punitive legal penalties (e.g., no penalty) for the possession of marijuana for personal use might play a role in increased use among adults.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION
National- and state-level data can help federal, state, and local public health officials develop targeted prevention activities to reduce youth initiation of marijuana use, prevent marijuana dependence and abuse, and prevent adverse health effects. As state-level laws on medical and recreational marijuana use change, modifications might be needed to national- and state-level surveys and more timely and comprehensive surveillance systems might be necessary to provide these data. Marijuana use in younger age groups is a particular public health concern, and changing the perception of harm risk from smoking marijuana is needed.
[1]
Patrick M. O'Malley,et al.
Monitoring the Future National Results on Adolescent Drug Use: Overview of Key Findings, 2004.
,
2003
.
[2]
Patrick O'Malley,et al.
Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975-2018: Overview, key findings on adolescent drug use
,
2015
.
[3]
D. Vearrier,et al.
Change in perceived risk associated with marijuana use in the United States from 2002 to 2012
,
2015,
Clinical toxicology.
[4]
Nora D Volkow,et al.
Adverse health effects of marijuana use.
,
2014,
The New England journal of medicine.
[5]
Mark Olfson,et al.
Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders: Prospective Evidence From a US National Longitudinal Study.
,
2016,
JAMA psychiatry.
[6]
Jill Manit,et al.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health
,
2009
.
[7]
Murat Yücel,et al.
Structural and Functional Imaging Studies in Chronic Cannabis Users: A Systematic Review of Adolescent and Adult Findings
,
2013,
European Psychiatry.
[8]
Jeesun Jung,et al.
Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013.
,
2015,
JAMA psychiatry.
[9]
Marilyn A Huestis,et al.
Cannabis effects on driving skills.
,
2013,
Clinical chemistry.
[10]
M. Elsohly,et al.
Changes in Cannabis Potency Over the Last 2 Decades (1995–2014): Analysis of Current Data in the United States
,
2016,
Biological Psychiatry.
[11]
Wayne Hall,et al.
The adverse health effects of chronic cannabis use.
,
2014,
Drug testing and analysis.
[12]
J. Merrick,et al.
Marijuana: Current Concepts
,
2013,
Front. Public Health.
[13]
S. Martins,et al.
Perceived risk of regular cannabis use in the United States from 2002 to 2012: differences by sex, age, and race/ethnicity.
,
2015,
Drug and alcohol dependence.