Recent Epidemiological Trends in Marijuana Use

This chapter provides a description of recent epidemiologic trends in marijuana use among U.S. adolescents and adults. Data from large national surveys conducted in the United States on rates of marijuana use have documented various trends in marijuana use. Specifically, the chapter discusses results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Monitoring the Future, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, and the National Monitoring of Adolescent Prescription Stimulant Study. These surveys show that the prevalence of marijuana use has increased for some subgroups in recent years, but rates of cannabis abuse or dependence among adolescents and adults examined have remained relatively steady.