Marijuana Legal in 9 Out of 10 States With Highest Youth Use Rate

Nine out of the top 10 U.S. states by annual marijuana use among youth (ages 12-17) have legalized the drug for recreational use.

Leading this list are New Mexico, Nevada, and Alaska, where 19.24 percent, 15.94 percent, and 15 percent of youth use marijuana respectively, according to data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. All three of the states have legalized recreational marijuana.

In fact, out of the top 10 U.S. states by annual marijuana use among youth, only Louisiana -- #8 with 13.01 percent -- has not legalized the drug for recreational use.

Marijuana has become four times more dangerous over the course of just three decades due to a quadrupled average THC level. Higher THC levels in marijuana are linked to increased problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, and loss of coordination. Even more disturbingly, all too often, people are unaware that marijuana, especially when it contains more THC, is a risk factor for psychosis and schizophrenia, as well as the fact that it stunts brain growth, sometimes includes lead and mercury, and can alter male sperm DNA linked to autism.

Marijuana use is associated with higher risk for suicidal thoughts and children and teens make up the majority of Delta-8 THC exposures, which leads to adverse events including hallucinations, vomiting, tremor, dizziness, anxiety, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) calculated state-specific marijuana use rates in its Model-Based Estimated Prevalence for States. The data set features a state-by-state breakdown of drug use and perceived risk, alcohol, tobacco, substance use disorders, substance use treatment, mental illness and suicidality.