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State Survey Shows Youth Cannabis Use Continues to Decline

April 23, 2026

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported on April 20 that there continues to be a steady decline in youth cannabis use since 2013, with 96% of students reporting not having used cannabis in the last month. 

According to the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey, Minnesota’s first study since adult cannabis use was legalized in 2023, showed healthier trends related to student use and perceptions of harms. Minnesota has seen a 57.7% decrease statewide of self-reported past 12-month cannabis use from 2013 (14.9%) to 2025 (6.3%) amongst eighth, ninth, and 11th graders combined. And more students now view using cannabis once or twice a week as moderately to greatly harmful, reversing the trend seen from 2013 to 2022. 

The survey, one of the nations’ longest-running youth surveys, provides local data to schools about student health, well-being and a range of topics. Conducted every three years between January and June, the survey anonymously collects information from students in grades five, eight, nine, and 11. MDH, local public health and community organizations also use the data to strengthen youth substance use prevention strategies and programs. 

MDH recently published How to Talk with Youth About Cannabis (PDF) to help parents, and other trusted adults, get the conversation started. BeCannabisAware.org also serves as a central hub for cannabis education including a dedicated “For Mentors” section with conversation tips for parents, teachers, coaches and other adults. MDH researchers collected cannabis-related findings from the survey in the fact sheet Cannabis Use Among Youth in Minnesota (PDF).   

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