Brief Description
Marijuana is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. In a more concentrated, resinous form, it is called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid, hash oil. The main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Learn more
Statistics and Trends
| Drug |
Time Period |
8th- Graders |
10th- Graders |
12th- Graders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marijuana/Hashish | Lifetime | 15.2 | 33.8 | 45.2 |
| Past Year | 11.4 | 28 | 36.4 | |
| Past Month | 6.5 | 17 | 22.9 | |
| Daily | 1.1 | 3.5 | 6.5 |
* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.
| Drug |
Time Period |
Ages 12 or Older |
Ages 12-17 |
Ages 18-25 |
Ages 26 or Older |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marijuana/Hashish | Lifetime | 41.9 | 17.5 | 51.9 | 43.2 |
| Past Year | 11.5 | 14.2 | 30.8 | 7.9 | |
| Past Month | 7 | 7.9 | 19.0 | 4.8 |
* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.
Latest Science
Featured Publications
Related Resources
- Marijuana: Facts for Teens
- Marijuana: Download the Facts Poster (Teaching Guide)
- Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body- Year 11-12 Compilation for Students
- Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body- Year 11-12 Compilation for Teachers
- Marijuana’s Lasting Effects on the Brain, (Message from the NIDA Director, September 2012)
- NIDA for Teens: Marijuana
Emerging Trends
Get more information on Emerging Trends, we will update this page with the latest research findings as they develop.
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Other Articles of Interest
Research Report
Marijuana Abuse
Explores the latest research on marijuana, including the scope of marijuana use in the U.S., health consequences, its effects on every-day activities, available treatments.
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Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
