Tag: Weed Connection

2025 Year in Review: Top Ten Events in Marijuana Policy

#1: President Trump Takes Executive Action to Federally Reschedule Cannabis

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December directing the US Attorney General to finalize a Biden-era recommendation to amend marijuana’s longstanding classification as a Schedule I federally controlled substance. Prior to signing the order, Trump said, “These facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications.”

Commenting on the order, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said, “While such a move potentially provides some benefits to patients, and veterans especially, it still falls well short of the changes necessary to bring federal marijuana policy into the 21st century.”

Despite the Administration’s action, it remains unclear when a change in marijuana’s federal scheduling will be codified. Any final order to reclassify cannabis is subject to a period of judicial review, whereby interested parties have an opportunity to challenge the order, which could further delay its implementation.

#2: GOP Lawmakers Undermine Voter-Approved Marijuana Measures

Republican lawmakers in various states took actions this year amending or repealing voter-approved marijuana laws.

In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton sued several cities, including Austin and San Marcos, to overturn voter-initiated marijuana depenalization laws. In Nebraska, lawmakers and regulators gutted the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis access law by rescinding patients’ access to botanical cannabis, among other restrictions. In Ohio, Republican lawmakers approved legislation rolling back legal protections for adult-use cannabis consumers and recriminalizing various marijuana-related activities, including obtaining cannabis products from out-of-state retailers.

In response to this trend, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “In a healthy democracy, those with competing visions on public policy vie for voters’ support and abide by their voting decisions. However, it is becoming clear that those who oppose marijuana policy reform would rather take voters out of the equation altogether. Whether or not one personally supports or opposes cannabis legalization, these undemocratic tactics ought to cause deep concern.”

#3 Federal Data: Teen Marijuana Use Continues Historic Decline

Federally funded survey data compiled by the University of Michigan in December reports that teens’ use of marijuana has declined significantly since states began regulating adult-use cannabis markets, and it now stands at or near historic lows.

Between 2012 and 2025, the percentage of 12th graders reporting having ever used cannabis fell by 23 percent. Among 10th graders, it fell 35 percent. Among 8th graders, lifetime use dropped 17 percent. During that same time period, past-year cannabis use fell 30 percent among 12th graders, 44 percent among 10th graders, and 34 percent among 8th graders. The percentage of teens reporting having consumed cannabis over the past 30 days also declined significantly — falling 25 percent among 12th graders, 45 percent among 10th graders, and 38 percent among 8th graders.

“We are encouraged that adolescent drug use remains relatively low and that so many teens choose not to use drugs at all,” said Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in a press release.

#4: Congress Approves Legislation Restricting Sales of Hemp-Derived Intoxicants

Federal lawmakers in November finalized and passed legislation recriminalizing the sale of certain hemp-derived intoxicating products. The law – which doesn’t take effect until November 2026 – redefines federally legal hemp products only to include those containing no more than either 0.3 percent or 0.4 milligrams of THC or other cannabinoids that produce similar effects, including THCA. In addition, it criminalizes “any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use” as well as products that are produced following chemical synthesis, such as those high in delta-8 THC content.

While the revised language is not explicitly intended to target hemp-derived, non-intoxicating CBD products, some industry advocates fear that these products will also ultimately be banned by the legislation because they often contain trace levels of THC. However, in December, President Trump called on his aides to work with Congress to ensure that patients do not lose access to regulated CBD products.

#5: Marijuana Arrests Continue to Decline

State and local law enforcement made nearly 190,000 marijuana possession-related arrests in 2024, according to data compiled by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and posted on its Crime Data Explorer website. While that total represents a 30-year low, marijuana-related arrests still comprise more than 22 percent of all drug arrests nationwide. In five states (Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin), more than half of all drug-related arrests reported by state and local law enforcement agencies in 2024 were cannabis-related.

Marijuana arrests peaked in the United States in 2007, when police made over 870,000 marijuana-related arrests. At that time, just under half (48 percent) of all drug-related arrests in the United States were for marijuana-related violations.

#6: Longitudinal Trials Show Cannabis Provides Sustained Benefits for Patients

Chronically ill patients experience sustained symptomatic relief from either herbal cannabis or oil extracts, according to the findings of numerous longitudinal trials published in 2025.

According to the results of the trials, which included thousands of patients, cannabis preparations were safe and effective for periods of up to 18 months for those suffering from pain, insomnia, fibromyalgia, treatment-resistant epilepsy, post-traumatic stress, hypermobility disorders, endometriosis, and numerous other conditions.

Most of the participants in the trials are enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Under British law, health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.

#7 November Election Outcomes Could Reshape East Coast Cannabis Markets

The election of Democratic Governors in New Jersey and Virginia could lead to the expansion of those states’ adult-use cannabis policies in 2026.

In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger will replace Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who on multiple occasions vetoed legislation regulating the retail sale of cannabis products to adults. By contrast, Governor-elect Spanberger has pledged, “I look forward to working with our General Assembly to find a path forward to creating a legalized retail market for cannabis that both prioritizes public safety and grows Virginia’s economy.”

In New Jersey, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill supports expanding New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis program, including allowing home cultivation and improving consumer access, safety, and affordability.

#8: Studies Consistently Show Cannabis Access Reduces Alcohol Consumption

Several studies published in 2025 report that consumers significantly reduce their alcohol intake following the use of cannabis.

In one study, subjects in a laboratory setting reduced their intake of alcoholic beverages by 25 percent following cannabis inhalation. In another study, participants reduced their alcohol intake by as much as 27 percent following cannabis consumption.

Finally, in a third study, patients seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder “consumed a mean of 8.08 daily MAP [Managed Alcohol Program]-provided standard drinks prior to the introduction of cannabis substitution and a mean of 6.45 daily MAP-provided standard drinks after its introduction.”

Commenting on the consistent results, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “These findings provide support for the idea that legal cannabis can serve as a substitute for alcohol among certain individuals, and that legal cannabis markets may, in some instances, disrupt alcohol-dominant marketplaces.”

#9: Marijuana Legalization Support Remains High, But Dips Among Republicans

Nearly two out of three US adults say that “the use of marijuana should be legal,” according to nationwide polling data compiled in November by Gallup. That percentage represents a slight dip from 2024 data, when 68 percent of respondents backed legalization.

The percentage change was primarily driven by declining support among Republicans – only 40 percent of whom endorse marijuana legalization. By contrast, 85 percent of Democrats support legalization – a near all-time high, as do 66 percent of Independents.

Historically, Republicans have been less likely than either Democrats or Independents to express support for legalization. In 2023, 55 percent of Republicans endorsed legalizing marijuana, the highest percentage ever.

#10: NIH Database Now Includes Over 53,000 Cannabis-Related Studies

For the fifth consecutive year, researchers worldwide published over 4,000 scientific papers specific to cannabis, its active constituents, and their effects, according to the results of a keyword search of the National Library of Medicine/PubMed.gov website.

“Despite the perception that marijuana has yet to be subject to adequate scientific scrutiny, scientists’ interest in studying cannabis has increased exponentially in the past decade, as has our understanding of the plant, its active constituents, their mechanisms of action, and their effects on both the user and upon society,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “It is time for politicians and others to stop assessing cannabis through the lens of ‘what we don’t know’ and instead start engaging in evidence-based discussions about marijuana and marijuana reform policies that are indicative of all that we do know.”

Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in scientific inquiries about the cannabis plant — with researchers publishing more than 37,000 scientific papers about cannabis since the beginning of 2015. As of this writing, PubMed.gov cites over 53,000 scientific papers on marijuana dating back to the year 1840.

Study: Cannabis Treatment Provides Sustained Relief for Patients With Fibromyalgia

London, United Kingdom: Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) report sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life following the use of medical cannabis preparations, according to observational data published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology.

British investigators assessed the adjunctive use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in a cohort of 497 FM patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Study participants consumed either herbal cannabis or oil extracts containing standardized concentrations of THC and CBD.

Consistent with previous studies, patients reported long-term improvements in their pain, anxiety, sleep, and overall quality of life following cannabis treatment. Participants who consumed formulations containing greater concentrations of CBD were most likely to report symptom relief.

“CBMPs were associated with improvements in all PROMs [patient-reported outcome measures], fibromyalgia-specific and general-health related, from baseline to all follow-up measures at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months,” the study’s authors concluded. “More randomized controlled trials are warranted, but this large analysis provides real-world data to inform their conduct.”

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be beneficial for those diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy, cancer-related pain, anxiety, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, substance use disorders, insomnia, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medicinal Cannabis Registry: A case series analyzing clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for fibromyalgia,” appears in Clinical Rheumatology.

Analysis: Cannabis Use Not Linked to Suicide in High-Risk Individuals

Boulder, CO: Cannabis use is not associated with an increased risk of later life suicidality in high-risk young adults, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors Reports.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado at Boulder assessed the relationship between substance use and suicidality in a cohort of high-risk adolescent siblings. Study participants were assessed at age 17 and again at ages 24 and 30.

“There was little evidence of an association between suicidality and any substance use examined in the present study, with the possible exception of tobacco use,” the study’s authors concluded. “Cannabis use did not show a consistent association with cross-sectional or later life suicidality in this high-risk sample.”

Separate data published earlier this year reported no increase in “emergency department presentations for suicidal ideation and attempts” in Canada following adult-use cannabis legalization.

Research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that “suicide rates among older age groups declined [in the United States] following the opening of recreational marijuana dispensaries.”

Full text of the study, “Associations between cannabis use frequency and suicidal thoughts and behaviors: A clinical longitudinal sibling study,” appears in Addictive Behavior Reports.

SCOTUS: Justices Refuse To Hear Case Challenging Federal Cannabis Prohibition

Washington, DC: Judges on the US Supreme Court have declined to take up a lower court case challenging the constitutionality of federal marijuana prohibition.

Petitioners argued that Congress’ reliance on the Commerce Clause of the Fifth Amendment to prohibit the trafficking of state-legal cannabis products exceeds its constitutional authority. Lower courts had rejected petitioners’ arguments and justices on the Supreme Court refused to grant certiorari.

The Supreme Court previously upheld the constitutionality of federal cannabis prohibition in 2005 in the case Gonzalez v. Raich. However, in 2021, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas opined that the Court ought to revisit that decision because federal policies [since then] have greatly undermined [the Court’s] reasoning.”

NORML had previously raised similar arguments in the federal case US v. Schweder et al. However, the judge in that case ultimately determined that Congress’ decision to criminalize marijuana was not without a “rational basis.”

“At some point in time, a court may decide this status to be unconstitutional,” the judge ruled. “But this is not the court and not the time.”

The case is Canna Provisions et al. v Bondi.

Federal: Lawmakers Reintroduce Legislation Safeguarding Federally-Assisted Housing Access for Cannabis Consumers

Washington, DC: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) have reintroduced legislation, the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act, permitting residents in federally assisted housing to consume cannabis products in compliance with their state’s marijuana laws.

Federal law currently allows the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove residents from public housing and Section 8 housing if a tenant has engaged in the use of a controlled substance while on the premises, “including [the use of] state legalized medical marijuana.”

Speaking in support of the legislation, Congresswoman Holmes Norton said: “Individuals living in federally funded housing should not fear eviction simply for treating their medical conditions or for seeking a substance legal in their state. Increasingly, Americans are changing their views on marijuana, and it is time that Congress caught up with its own constituents. With so many states improving their laws, this issue should have broad bipartisan appeal because it protects states’ rights.”

NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox, who is working with lawmakers to promote the bill, added, “At a time when affording a home or rent is becoming significantly more difficult and states are increasingly criminalizing being unhoused, it is outrageous to deny people access to public housing for responsibly using a substance that is legal in some form in most of the country. This outdated federal policy is particularly cruel when applied to medical cannabis patients, who are often forced to choose between their health and basic shelter. NORML is proud to endorse this legislation to stop housing discrimination against vulnerable Americans who consume cannabis in compliance with state laws.”

Longitudinal Study: Endometriosis Patients Experience Improvements Following Medical Cannabis Therapy

London, United Kingdom: Endometriosis patients report health-related quality of life improvements following the use of medical cannabis preparations, according to observational data published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

British investigators assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in a cohort of 63 endometriosis patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Study participants consumed either herbal cannabis or oil extracts containing a nearly equal ratio of THC and CBD.

Patients acknowledged improvements in their chronic pain and other health-related quality of life measures following cannabis therapy.

“These results provide a signal towards improvement in short-term pain severity and interference for endometriosis patients after the initiation of CMBP treatment,” the study’s authors concluded. “This study provides valuable real-world data and complements the development of RCTs [randomized clinical trials] to further examine the efficacy and safety of CBMPs for endometriosis-associated chronic pain.”

Survey data reports that nearly one in five endometriosis patients consume cannabis to manage their symptoms.

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among those enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be beneficial for patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy, cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, substance use disorders, insomnia, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “A longitudinal assessment of endometriosis patients prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products: A case series from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Case Reports: Cannabis Oil Associated With Tumor Regression in Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer

Groningen, Netherlands: A pair of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) experienced spontaneous tumor regression following the daily use of cannabis extracts, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Dutch investigators documented “complete” tumor regression in a pair of patients with advanced HCC. Both patients consumed THC-dominant cannabis oils daily. Neither patient engaged in any significant lifestyle, dietary, or other supportive interventions aside from the use of cannabis extracts.

Spontaneous regression of HCC typically occurs in fewer than one-half of one percent of all cases.

The study’s authors concluded: “In this report, we present two patients (ages 82 and 77) with advanced HCC with a high tumor burden who demonstrated durable and complete regression after use of cannabis oil. … The observations in this report build on previous (pre)clinical research highlighting the potential anti-tumor qualities of cannabinoids and stress the need for clinical trials investigating the anti-tumor effects of cannabinoids in cancer patients.”

Cannabinoids have demonstrated well-established anti-cancer activities in preclinical models, but their efficacy as an anti-cancer agent has rarely been assessed in clinical trials.

Full text of the study, “Durable complete response of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using cannabis oil: A report of two cases,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Study: Cannabis Use History Not Linked To Elevated Risk of Prostate Cancer

Miami, FL: Men over 50 with a history of cannabis use are no more likely to experience prostate cancer than are non-users, according to data published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine assessed the relationship between the lifetime use of cannabis and psychedelic drugs with prostate cancer diagnoses among a representative sample of older adults.

Researchers identified a slight correlation between psychedelic drug use and prostate cancer, but they reported no similar elevated risk among those who consumed cannabis. “No significant associations were found for cannabis-only use versus non-use,” they acknowledged.

“With the growing acceptance and accessibility of cannabis and psychedelics for both medical and recreational purposes, understanding their potential long-term health implications is essential, particularly for older adults who are at higher risk of prostate cancer diagnosis,” the study’s authors concluded. “[O]ur cross-sectional findings … may inform clinicians to consider discussing substance use histories, including cannabis and psychedelic use, during routine health assessments and cancer risk evaluations in aging male patients.”

Full text of the study, “Association between lifetime co-use of classic psychedelics and cannabis and prostate cancer diagnosis among US adults 50 years and older,” appears in Nature: Scientific Reports.

Analysis: Cannabis Use Not Associated With Heart Abnormalities in HIV Patients

Miami, FL: HIV patients with a history of cannabis use are not at an increased risk for myocardial infarction or other adverse cardiovascular events, according to ECG (electrocardiogram) findings published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and the University of California at San Francisco assessed ECG results in 3,610 HIV patients with and without a history of cannabis use.

Researchers reported that cannabis use was not independently associated with ECG abnormalities, including evidence of myocardial infarction (heart attack). They concluded, “We sought to evaluate the association of cannabis use and ECG abnormalities. … Evidence of ECG abnormalities did not vary significantly by cannabis use status alone in the overall cohort, nor by sex, when controlling for covariates.”

Although individual studies assessing cannabis use and cardiovascular health have yielded inconsistent results, a literature review of 67 papers published in The American Journal of Medicine concluded, “[M]arijuana itself does not appear to be independently associated with excessive cardiovascular risk factors.” More recently, an analysis of over 720,000 adults published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM) Focus concluded that current cannabis consumers do not possess a greater risk of heart attack as compared to non-users.

Full text of the study, “The association between cannabis use and electrocardiographic abnormalities in people living with HIV,” appears in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Study: Cannabis Inhalation Associated With Symptomatic Improvements in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Pullman, WA: Adults with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) report significant improvements in their symptoms following cannabis inhalation, according to data published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports.

Researchers affiliated with Washington State University and the University of New Orleans reviewed data from 111 self-identified ASD patients (ages 19 to 70). Study participants self-medicated with cannabis and reported their results in real-time on the mobile technology platform Strainprint. Investigators assessed nearly 6,000 separate Strainprint entries compiled over 74 months.

They reported: “Using a large dataset from self-identified autistic adults self-medicating with cannabis, we found that ratings of the severity of Negative Affect (anxiety and irritability) were reduced by 75.78 percent, ratings of the severity of Repetitive Behaviors (compulsive behaviors) were reduced by 70.41 percent, ratings of the severity of problems with Mental Control (difficulty concentrating) were reduced by 68.59 percent, and ratings of Sensitivity (skin and sound sensitivity, sensory overload) severity were reduced by 68.09 percent, from immediately before to shortly after inhaling cannabis. Moreover, these symptoms were reduced (rather than exacerbated or unchanged) in 98.33 percent of the cannabis use sessions. These findings are among the first to indicate that cannabis is perceived to improve highly prevalent symptoms associated with ASD in adults using cannabis for symptom management.”

Study participants acknowledged experiencing symptomatic improvements from cannabis regardless of its potency or its cannabinoid ratios.

“These findings indicate that well-powered placebo-controlled trials are warranted to examine the acute effects of various cannabinoids and manipulations of the endocannabinoid system on ASD symptoms,” the study’s authors concluded.

The findings are consistent with observational studies involving patients enrolled in the United Kingdom’s Medical Cannabis Registry, which similarly report that adults with ASD experience improved symptoms and reduce their use of prescription medications following their use of medical cannabis products.

Full text of the study, “Acute effects on cannabis on core and co-occurring features associated with autism spectrum disorder in adults,” appears in Nature: Scientific Reports.

Analysis: Cannabis Use Associated With Lower Rates of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome

Adelaide, Australia: Adults with a history of recent cannabis use are less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome (aka MetS, a cluster of biochemical and physiological markers associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) as compared to similarly matched controls, according to data published in the journal Schizophrenia Research.

Australian researchers assessed MetS prevalence in a cohort of schizophrenic patients with and without a history of cannabis consumption.

They reported that THC-positive subjects “exhibited a significantly lower prevalence of MetS (adjusted OR = 0.61),” even after researchers adjusted for potential confounders. Cannabis use was also associated with lower weight, BMI, and cholesterol levels – findings that are consistent with prior studies.

“Our findings demonstrate a significant association between cannabis use and a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in individuals with schizophrenia,” the study’s authors concluded. However, they cautioned: “Given the well-established adverse psychosis-related outcomes of cannabis use in this population, our findings underscore the need for cautious interpretation. The relationship between cannabis use and cardiometabolic health in schizophrenia is likely multifactorial, influenced by biological, pharmacological and behavioral traits that remain poorly understood. … Future research should investigate the long-term cardiometabolic effects of both cannabis use and cessation and assess the potential for targeted metabolic interventions during this critical period.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and cardiometabolic risk in schizophrenia,” appears in Schizophrenia Research.

Clinical Trial: CBD Dosing Reduces Dementia Symptoms in Older Adults

São Paulo, Brazil: The daily use of CBD reduces dementia symptoms, according to placebo-controlled clinical trial data published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Brazilian researchers assessed the efficacy of CBD versus a placebo in 30 older patients with vascular dementia (VaD). Study participants consumed either 300mg doses of CBD or the placebo for four weeks.

CBD administration significantly reduced patients’ behavioral and psychiatric symptoms compared to placebo. CBD dosing did not adversely impact patients’ cognitive functioning, nor was it associated with any other significant side effects.

“CBD was well tolerated and effectively reduced BPSD [behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia] in VaD without cognitive or functional impairment,” the study’s authors concluded. “These findings warrant further trials with larger samples, extended durations, and dose-optimization strategies to confirm its therapeutic potential.”

According to the conclusions of a review paper published previously this year in the same journal, “Cannabinoids show promising potential in managing symptoms such as agitation and aggression in people with dementia, with an overall favorable safety and tolerability profile.”

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabidiol on behavioral and psychological symptoms of vascular dementia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial,” appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

California: No Significant Uptick in Marijuana Use by Adults Following Legalization

Berkeley, CA: The percentage of adults in California reporting current cannabis use has remained stable following legalization, according to findings published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse.

Researchers affiliated with the Prevention Research Center in Berkeley assessed trends in past 30-day cannabis use from 2018 to 2023 using data compiled by the California Health Interview Survey – a representative sample of tens of thousands of Californians.

Contrary to investigators’ expectations, they identified no significant overall increase in self-reported cannabis use by adults.

“In summary, the overall trend for cannabis use in the past 30-day in California remained unchanged from 2018 to 2023, eight years after legalization and six years after cannabis retail became available,” the study’s authors concluded. “Future research should focus on identifying trends among gender, age, and ethnic groups.”

The findings are consistent with national trends reporting no significant uptick in marijuana use by adolescents post-legalization, but they are inconsistent with several surveys finding increased cannabis use among young adults and seniors.

Full text of the study, “Trends in pot-legalization cannabis use among ethnic groups in California: 2018-2023,” appears in Substance Use & Misuse.