Youth cannabis use in Minnesota continues to decline, according to new data from the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey, even as officials stress the need for ongoing education and prevention.
The survey found that 96% of students reported not using cannabis in the past month, and overall use among eighth, ninth and 11th graders dropped from 14.9% in 2013 to 6.3% in 2025 — a nearly 58% decrease.
The findings mark the first survey since Minnesota legalized adult cannabis use in 2023 and suggest that youth attitudes toward the substance may be shifting. More students now view regular cannabis use as harmful, reversing trends seen in the previous decade.
State health officials say the data is encouraging but caution that early exposure remains a concern. “We need to talk to our children about cannabis before they encounter it,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham said.
In St. Paul, the data will help inform local public health strategies, including school-based education and community outreach programs in neighborhoods across the city. Officials say resources are available to help parents and mentors have age-appropriate conversations about cannabis and its impacts on brain development.
The Minnesota Student Survey is conducted every three years and provides key data used by schools and public health agencies statewide.
More information: becannabisaware.org
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