Even the DEA Admits Youth Use is Down as Legalization Spreads Across the Map

The DEA just dropped a major reality check in a new online quiz, admitting that teen cannabis use has actually plummeted over the last thirty years. This admission directly flips the script on the tired old prohibitionist claim that legalizing weed would cause a surge in underage use. According to the stats they cited, past-year usage among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders has seen a massive decline since 1995, even as more states have opened up legal markets.

While the agency still leans into some typical warnings about health risks, they can no longer ignore the data showing that regulated, age-gated shops are better for keeping flower away from kids than the illicit market ever was. This is a massive win for the community because it reinforces that legalization works when it comes to public safety. For everyday tokers, this official shift in narrative is huge—it’s one less "reefer madness" myth standing in the way of full federal acceptance and better access for responsible adults.