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Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Marijuana Use and Illegal Drug Availability

Last Updated: May 2021
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This indicator also appears under School Crime and Safety.
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In 2019, about 22 percent of students in grades 9–12 reported that illegal drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property during the previous 12 months.
This indicator uses data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) to examine the percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported they had used marijuana during the previous 30 days. Adolescent marijuana use has been associated with lower academic performance1,2 and a higher risk of dropping out of high school.3 Considering the school context directly, this indicator then examines the percentage of students who reported they had been offered, sold, or given an illegal drug on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.

Select a subgroup characteristic from the drop-down menu below to view relevant text and figures.

All available findings Grade level/Student level Multiple student characteristics Race/ethnicity Sex or gender Sexual identity State/jurisdiction Time series
Figure 1. Percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported using marijuana at least one time during the previous 30 days, by sex: Selected years, 2009 through 2019
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Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
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A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
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Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
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NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Estimates do not include the use of synthetic marijuana.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2009 through 2019. See Digest of Education Statistics 2020, table 232.40.

In 2019, about 22 percent of students in grades 9–12 reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days (ranging from 10 percent in Utah to 29 percent in the District of Columbia).4,5 This included about 8 percent of students who reported using marijuana 1 or 2 times during the previous 30 days, 10 percent who reported using marijuana 3 to 39 times during the previous 30 days, and 4 percent who reported using marijuana 40 or more times during the previous 30 days. [State/jurisdiction]
The overall percentage of students who reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days in 2019 was not measurably different from the percentage in 2009 (21 percent). Similarly, there was no measurable difference in reported marijuana use between these years for male students (22 percent in 2019). However, the percentage of female students who reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days was higher in 2019 than in 2009 (21 vs. 18 percent). [Time series ] [Sex or gender]
In 2009 and 2011, a higher percentage of male students than of female students in grades 9–12 reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days in. Since 2013, there has been no measurable difference in the percentages of males and females that reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days. However, male and female students differed in their reported frequency of use. Specifically, in 2019, a higher percentage of males (5 percent) than of females (3 percent) reported using marijuana 40 or more times during the previous 30 days. [Time series ] [Sex or gender]
Figure 2. Percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported using marijuana at least one time during the previous 30 days, by race/ethnicity and grade: 2019
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Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
Bar | Table
A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
Bar | Table
Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
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!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Estimates do not include the use of synthetic marijuana. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded percentages.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2019. See Digest of Education Statistics 2020, table 232.40.

Considering marijuana use in 2019 by race/ethnicity, there was no measurable difference in the percentage of students who reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days among White, Black, and Hispanic students (22 percent each). These percentages were all higher than the percentage of Asian students (9 percent) and lower than the percentage of students of Two or more races (28 percent) who reported using marijuana. In addition, a higher percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native students (34 percent) than of Pacific Islander students (14 percent) or Asian students reported using marijuana at least once in the previous 30 days. [Race/ethnicity ]
When marijuana use is examined by grade level, a lower percentage of 9th-graders (15 percent) than of 10th-graders (20 percent) reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days, and both percentages were lower than the percentages for 11th- and 12th-graders (25 and 28 percent, respectively). [Grade level/Student level]
Figure 3. Percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported using marijuana at least one time during the previous 30 days, by number of times and sexual identity: 2019
Hover, click, and tap to see more for all figures on this page.
Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
Bar | Table
A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
Bar | Table
Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
X
Embed this figure

!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Estimates do not include the use of synthetic marijuana. Students were asked which of the following—“heterosexual (straight),” “gay or lesbian,” “bisexual,” or “not sure”—best described them. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded percentages.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2019. See Digest of Education Statistics 2020, table 232.50.

In 2019, a higher percentage of gay, lesbian, or bisexual students (31 percent) than of heterosexual students (21 percent) and students who were not sure about their sexual identity (19 percent) reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days.6 Moreover, higher percentages of gay, lesbian, or bisexual students than of heterosexual students reported using marijuana 1 to 2 times (11 vs. 8 percent), 3 to 39 times (14 vs. 10 percent), and 40 or more times (6 vs. 4 percent) during the previous 30 days. In contrast, although a higher percentage of gay, lesbian, or bisexual students than of students who were not sure about their sexual identity reported using marijuana 3 to 39 times during the previous 30 days (14 vs. 8 percent), there was no measurable difference between these groups in the percentage that reported using marijuana 1 to 2 times or 40 or more times in the last 30 days. [Sexual identity]
Figure 4. Percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property during the previous 12 months, by sex: Selected years, 2009 through 2019
Hover, click, and tap to see more for all figures on this page.
Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
Line | Bar | Table
A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
Line | Bar | Table
Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
X
Embed this figure

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Students were asked if anyone offered, sold, or gave them an illegal drug on school property during the previous 12 months. “On school property” was not defined for respondents.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2009 through 2019. See Digest of Education Statistics 2020, table 232.70.

In the YRBSS, students in grades 9–12 were asked whether someone had offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug (also referred to as “illegal drugs were made available to them” in this indicator) on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.7 In 2019, about 22 percent of students in grades 9–12 reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property (ranging from 13 percent in Colorado to 31 percent in California).8 There was no measurable difference between 2009 and 2019 in the percentage of students who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property. [Time series ]
Between 2009 and 2015, a higher percentage of male than of female students reported that illegal drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property (ranging from 24 to 29 percent for male students, and 19 to 22 percent for female students). However, in 2017 and 2019, there was no measurable difference in the percentage of males and females who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property. [Time series ] [Sex or gender]
Figure 5. Percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property during the previous 12 months, by selected student characteristics: 2019
Hover, click, and tap to see more for all figures on this page.
Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
Bar | Table
A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
Bar | Table
Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
X
Embed this figure

!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

1 Students were asked which of the following—“heterosexual (straight),” “gay or lesbian,” “bisexual,” or “not sure”—best described them.

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Students were asked if anyone offered, sold, or gave them an illegal drug on school property during the previous 12 months. “On school property” was not defined for respondents. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2019. See Digest of Education Statistics 2020, table 232.70.

There were some differences in the percentages of students who reported that illegal drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property by race/ethnicity, grade level, and sexual identity. In 2019, higher percentages of students of Two or more races (28 percent) and Hispanic students (27 percent) reported that illegal drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property, compared with Black students (21 percent) and White students (20 percent); all these percentages were higher than the percentage of Asian students (14 percent). The percentage of students who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property was higher for 10th-graders than for 12th-graders (24 vs. 20 percent). Additionally, a higher percentage of gay, lesbian, or bisexual students (30 percent) than of students who were not sure about their sexual identity (24 percent) and students who were heterosexual (21 percent) reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property in 2019. [Multiple student characteristics]

1 Meier, M.H., Hill, M.L., Small, P.J., and Luthar, S.S. (2015). Associations of Adolescent Cannabis Use With Academic Performance and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of Upper Middle Class Youth. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 156: 207–212. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871615016580.

2 Pardini, D., White, H.R., Xiong, S., Bechtold, J., Chung, T., Loeber, R., and Hipwell, A. (2015). Unfazed or Dazed and Confused: Does Early Adolescent Marijuana Use Cause Sustained Impairments in Attention and Academic Functioning? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43(7): 1203–1217. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10802-015-0012-0.

3 Bray, J.W., Zarkin, G.A., Ringwalt, C., and Qi, J. (2000). The Relationship Between Marijuana Initiation and Dropping Out of High School. Health Economics, 9(1): 9–18. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1050(200001)9:1%3C9::AID-HEC471%3E3.0.CO;2-Z.

4 U.S. total data are representative of all public and private school students in grades 9–12 in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. U.S. total data were collected through a separate national survey rather than being aggregated from state-level data. All discussions in this indicator, except those at the state level, were based on data from the national survey.

5 In 2019, state-level data on students’ marijuana use were available for 44 states and the District of Columbia. For detailed state-level data on the percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days, see the table on current marijuana use for all locations in the YRBSS Youth Online Data Analysis Tool.

6 Since 2015, the YRBSS has included a question on students’ sexual identity by asking students in grades 9–12 which of the following best described them—“heterosexual (straight),” “gay or lesbian,” “bisexual,” or “not sure.” In this indicator, students who identified as “gay or lesbian” or “bisexual” are discussed together as the “gay, lesbian, or bisexual” group. Students were not asked whether they identified as transgender in the YRBSS.

7 “On school property” was not defined for survey respondents.

8 In 2019, state-level data on illegal drug availabilities were available for 36 states. For detailed state-level data on the percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported being offered, sold, or given an illegal drug on school property during the 12 months preceding the survey, see the table on illegal drugs on school property for all locations in the YRBSS Youth Online Data Analysis Tool.

Supplemental Information

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Table icon
Table 232.40 (Digest 2020): Percentage of students in grades 9-12 who reported using marijuana at least one time during the previous 30 days, by location and selected student characteristics: Selected years, 1993 through 2019;
Table icon
Table 232.50 (Digest 2020): Percentage distribution of students in grades 9-12, by number of times they reported using marijuana anywhere during the previous 30 days and selected student characteristics: Selected years, 2013 through 2019;
Table icon
Table 232.70 (Digest 2020): Percentage of students in grades 9-12 who reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property during the previous 12 months, by selected student characteristics: Selected years, 1993 through 2019
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On school property Private school Public school or institution Racial/ethnic group Sexual identity (Youth Risk Behavior Survey System)
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Previous versions of this indicator available in the Indicators of School Crime and Safety reports.
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Suggested Citation

National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Marijuana Use and Illegal Drug Availability. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved [date], from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/a15.
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