A new study has found that more teenagers in the United States are vaping cannabis-related substances, including THC, CBD, and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs).
This trend has grown from 2021 to 2023, and more teens are unsure about what exactly they are vaping. The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and provide important information that can help shape health policies and reduce harm.
Vaping has become popular among teenagers in recent years, not just for nicotine but also for other substances like cannabis. THC is the part of cannabis that makes people feel high.
CBD, another part of cannabis, does not cause a high but is often promoted for health reasons. SCs, or synthetic cannabinoids, are man-made chemicals that try to copy the effects of THC. However, SCs can be much stronger and more dangerous than natural cannabis.
The research team used data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey from the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. This included information from nearly 70,000 middle and high school students, aged 11 to 18. The lead author, Jack Chung from the University of Queensland, said the team noticed a clear rise in teen vaping of THC, CBD, and SCs over these three years.
THC use reached its highest point in 2022, while the use of synthetic cannabinoids continued to climb in 2023. Even more worrying, more teens said they didn’t know what substance they were vaping. The number of teens who answered “don’t know” when asked about SCs tripled between 2021 and 2023.
In 2023, around 7.4% of US teens—about 2.55 million—were vaping THC. Another 2.9%, or 999,000, were vaping CBD, and 1.8%, or 620,000, were vaping synthetic cannabinoids.
Studies show that teens who vape cannabis often experience more mental health issues than those who use cannabis in its traditional form, like smoking dried leaves or flowers. Synthetic cannabinoids are particularly risky because they often stick more strongly to brain receptors, which can cause unpredictable and intense health problems.
Chung also pointed out that synthetic cannabinoids are usually bought from illegal or unregulated sources. This means there’s no guarantee about what’s in them, which makes them especially dangerous. Many young people might not even realize they are vaping synthetic substances, which could lead to serious health issues or even death.
Co-author Dr. Gary Chan, also from the University of Queensland, added that researchers still don’t know much about the long-term effects of vaping cannabis. This makes it even more important for people to know exactly what they are inhaling.
What makes this study unique is that it looked at THC, CBD, and SCs separately. Many earlier studies grouped all cannabis-related vaping together, even though each type can affect the brain and body very differently.
Chung also said that teens often try these substances out of curiosity, peer pressure, or because they want to fit in. Social media, including platforms like TikTok and YouTube, may also play a role by exposing teens to cannabis marketing or influencers who promote vaping.
He hopes the study will help raise awareness and lead to better education and health programs to protect young people from the risks of vaping.
In reviewing the study findings, it’s clear that the rising use of synthetic cannabinoids is particularly troubling. These substances are more dangerous and less understood than natural cannabis, and their use among teens is growing.
The fact that many teens don’t even know what they’re vaping adds another layer of risk. Public health experts need to act quickly to educate teens, monitor vaping trends, and limit access to harmful substances.
If you care about smoking, please read studies about smoking may increase heart disease risk by 200% and e-cigarette smoke may cause lung cancer and bladder disease.
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The study findings are published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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