Adolescents view cannabis as safer than alcohol, vaping and cigarettes
A study of over 175,000 California students found that adolescents consistently perceive cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, nicotine vapes, and cigarettes. The perception of cannabis risk declined as students got older, with younger adolescents more likely to view it as harmful.
A new study analyzed data from two large California school surveys conducted in 2019-2020 and 2024. The findings showed that cannabis was viewed as the least harmful substance among respondents. In the earlier survey, about two-thirds of adolescents considered regular cannabis use harmful, compared to higher proportions for other substances. Perceptions of cannabis risk declined as students got older, with 12th graders less likely to view it as harmful. Teens who had used cannabis and those with friends who used it were also less likely to view it as harmful. The study's authors suggest that prevention and education efforts may need to better address cannabis-specific risks due to potential impacts on brain development, cognition, and mental health.
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