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Rate of Past-30-day Marijuana Use Continues to Decline Among Colorado High School Students, Remains Lower Than National Average

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The rate of current marijuana use among Colorado teens continues to decline since the state legalized cannabis for adults, and it remains lower than the national average, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s biannual Healthy Kids Colorado Survey.

Results from the most recent survey, which was conducted in 2023, are now available via the HKCS Interactive Dashboard. It found 12.8% of high school students in Colorado reported using cannabis in the past 30 days, down from 13.3% in 2021. This represents a nearly 42% decrease since 2011 (22%), the year preceding Colorado voters’ approval of Amendment 64, which legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. Nationwide, 16% of high school students report using cannabis in the past 30 days, according to the latest results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which are compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The 2023 HKCS found just over 40% of Colorado high school students reported it would be “sort of easy or very easy to get marijuana if they wanted,” which is 26% lower than in 2013 (54.9%), the year preceding the commencement of legal adult cannabis sales in the state. The survey also found a record high 70.2% of high school students think it would be wrong for someone their age to use marijuana, up from about 60% in 2011 and 2013.

Statement from Chuck Smith, president of the board of directors for Colorado Leads:

“We are extremely pleased to see the rate of current cannabis use among Colorado high school students continues to decline and remains lower than the national average. Significantly fewer high school students report cannabis is easy to get today compared to the years preceding legal adult sales, which suggests our system is working as intended with regard to preventing youth access. Colorado continues to be proof that regulating cannabis works.

While these latest figures are promising, we recognize we must remain vigilant and continue to work with regulators and other stakeholders to maintain this promising trend. Colorado’s legal cannabis industry is committed to preventing youth access, which is reflected in its exceptionally high compliance rates for checking IDs and refusing sales to minors.”

About Colorado Leads

Colorado Leads is an alliance of cannabis business leaders created to educate the public and policymakers about the importance of a vibrant safe and sensibly regulated cannabis industry and its economic contributions. It comprises licensed operators and ancillary businesses that recognize a sustainable cannabis business climate and responsible cannabis industry are critical to the state’s economy and the wellbeing of local communities. For more information, visit https://coleads.org.

Colorado Underage Marijuana Sales Compliance Reaches Record High 99%

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The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division announced this week that the compliance rate for underage sales checks reached a record high 99% in 2022.

Marijuana Moment reports:

Colorado marijuana regulators announced this week that out of 285 underage sales checks conducted at state-licensed cannabis stores this year, there have been only four failures—a compliance rate of about 99 percent.

“While any failure is unacceptable,” the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) said in the latest issue of its quarterly In the Weeds newsletter on Monday, “we’re pleased to report this very high compliance rate which is on par with the compliance percentage from 2022.”

While compliance rates reached a record high last year, they have long been in line (or often better) than compliance rates for alcohol and tobacco sellers. This may be one reason why rates of teen cannabis use have not increased — and even declined — since Colorado legalized cannabis for adults back in 2012.

 

Myth Busters 

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CDC: Teen cannabis use dropped in Colorado and other states after legalization 

Two possible reasons cited by the CDC for the decline or absence of youth marijuana use were that cannabis lost its novelty appeal and the reduction of the illegal market in states where cannabis is regulated.  

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Washington State University: Legal cannabis has not led to spikes in crime in WA and CO

Researchers found that legalizing marijuana had “no statistically significant long-term effects” on serious violent crime and property crime rates in either state. 

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The kids are alright

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Researchers at Colorado State University Pueblo have released a new study that says “living in a community with recreational marijuana does not appear to influence area high schoolers’ use of cannabis or their attitudes towards it.” 

 “Based on the 2013 and 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data,” the study states, “permitting or not permitting recreational cannabis dispensaries in a community does not appear to change student cannabis use or perceptions towards cannabis.”

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