New Poll States Cannabis Use in Decline Among Young Americans

While support for legalizing cannabis is at a record high, a new poll states the number of Americans who admit using marijuana hasn’t changed much over the last three decades and has actually declined among young Americans.

According to a Gallup Poll, 38 percent of respondents admit to having tried marijuana, compared with 34 percent in 1999 and 33 percent in 1985. Despite the stability of these figures, the consistency is attributed to a rise in older users coupled with a “steady decline” amongst those who are 18 to 29 beginning in 1985.

“As the bulge of young adults who tried marijuana in the 1970s ages and replaces older Americans who never tried it, the rate of all Americans who have ever tried the drug has increased slightly,” the report reads.

While only two percent of those 50 to 64 had tried marijuana in 1969, this number rose to 44 percent in the most recent poll. Meanwhile, the number of those aged 18 to 29 who have tried marijuana has declined from 56 percent in 1985 to 36 percent today.

“The generational patterns suggest that the total rate of Americans who have ever tried marijuana will continue to increase as the population ages,” the report reads.  “But unless young adults’ interest in marijuana picks up again, the total rate will eventually decline when those who may have dabbled with the drug in the 1970s and 1980s are gone.”