Americans’ Perception of Marijuana and Psychedelics as Safe Has Changed Over the Past Decade
A recent federal study has found that Americans perceive marijuana and psychedelics, such as LSD, as safer now than they did a decade ago. The study, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), analyzed data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2015 to 2023.
According to the study, the perception of harm associated with substance use has been steadily declining for most substances since 2015. Marijuana, in particular, has seen a significant decline in perceived harm, with a 30% decrease in risk perception for both monthly and weekly use.
The study also found that the perception of harm associated with LSD has experienced the largest decline over the period, with a 20% decrease in perceived harm for both frequent and less frequent use.
The changing perceptions of harm associated with substances are often seen as a leading indicator of substance use trends. However, it’s worth noting that the decline in perceived harm has not always been accompanied by an increase in usage. In fact, multiple national surveys have found that rates of cannabis use have remained stable or declined among teens, even as perceptions of harm have decreased.
Advocates of marijuana legalization have long argued that establishing a regulatory framework for marijuana sales, with safeguards such as age restrictions and ID checks, would mitigate youth access. Data from Washington State, which legalized marijuana for adults in 2012, has shown that perceived ease of access to cannabis among underage students has generally dropped since then, and overall declines in both lifetime and past-30-day marijuana use have been observed.
The study’s findings are consistent with other research, which has found that states’ adoption of laws to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults has not led to an increase in youth use of cannabis. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that there is no evidence that states’ legalization of marijuana has led to an increase in youth use.
The trend of declining perceived harm and stable or declining usage rates among teens suggests that the regulation of marijuana and other substances may be an effective way to reduce harm and promote public health. As policymakers and practitioners continue to monitor substance use trends, it’s essential to consider the impact of regulation on substance use and to evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches.
