Flavored Marijuana Vaping Gains Traction Among US Adolescents

The use of flavored marijuana vaping solutions has surged among American teenagers who vape cannabis, according to new research from the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future surveys. The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, found significant increases in flavored vaping use among younger teens between 2021 and 2024. Among eighth graders who vaped marijuana, the percentage using flavored solutions jumped from 47% in 2021 to 63% in 2024. This trend was also observed among older students, with use climbing from 41% to 53% for 10th graders and from 36% to 50% for 12th graders.

Key Takeaways:

• The use of flavored marijuana vaping solutions has become the most common form of cannabis use among American teenagers who vape, with 63% of eighth graders using flavored solutions in 2024.
• The percentage of marijuana users who chose to vape the drug also grew over the study period, with 57% of eighth graders who had used marijuana in the past 12 months vaping it in 2024.
• The overall percentage of students who found flavored vaping solutions more attractive than the standard cannabis taste increased between 2021 and 2024.
• Flavored vaping solutions offer a discreet mode of cannabis use, with flavors apparently enhancing their appeal, particularly among younger teens.
• The study highlights growing public health concerns about changing patterns of substance use among teens, including the potential for addiction and impaired social and academic life.
• The results suggest that regulating flavored vaping solutions may not be a straightforward solution, as teens may seek out unflavored options or return to smoking cannabis in traditional forms.
• The study's authors suggest that targeted policies, interventions, and educational campaigns are needed to address and mitigate the escalating concern among young people.
• The Monitoring the Future Study includes questions on both cannabis's perceived risk and social acceptability, and the results show that perceived risk among adolescents actually increased over the study period.

Statistics:

• 63% of eighth graders used flavored marijuana vaping solutions in 2024 (up from 47% in 2021).
• 53% of 10th graders used flavored marijuana vaping solutions in 2024 (up from 41% in 2021).
• 50% of 12th graders used flavored marijuana vaping solutions in 2024 (up from 36% in 2021).
• 57% of eighth graders who had used marijuana in the past 12 months vaped it in 2024 (up from 48% in 2021).
• 67% of 12th graders who had used marijuana in the past 12 months vaped it in 2024 (up from 58% in 2021).

Sources:

• University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future surveys
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (funding agency)
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.07.004 (study citation)