Prevention Priorities - Marijuana

Overview

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance in the U.S. and its use is growing. Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. The perception of how harmful marijuana use can be is declining. Increasingly, young people today do not consider marijuana use a risky behavior (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

Data

• Four percent of Iowa youth who completed the Iowa Youth Survey reported they used marijuana (pot, grass, hash, bud, weed) in the past 30 days; 1% of 6th graders, 3% of 8th graders, and 11% of 11th graders reported having used marijuana (pot, grass, hash, bud, weed) in the past 30 days. (Iowa Youth Survey, 2018).
• In Iowa, marijuana is the third most common substance identified at admission for substance use disorder treatment for adults 18 years old and older (IDPH Bureau of Substance Abuse, 2019). 

Campaigns

Resources

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