More American teenagers are vaping cannabis than ever before, with 2.55 million now using THC products and hundreds of thousands more experimenting with potentially dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, according to a comprehensive analysis of national youth surveys.
Most alarming to researchers: the number of teens who don’t know what they’re actually vaping has tripled in just two years.
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed data from 69,899 middle and high school students surveyed between 2021 and 2023. Researchers found significant increases across all cannabis categories, with synthetic cannabinoids showing particularly concerning growth despite their unpredictable and potentially lethal effects.
Synthetic Cannabis Use Continues Climbing
“We found a significant increase in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and SCs from 2021 to 2023,” explained lead researcher Jack Chung from the University of Queensland’s National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research. “THC vaping peaked in 2022 while the use of SCs continued to increase.”
The 2023 numbers reveal the scope of teen cannabis vaping:
- 7.4% of adolescents (2.55 million) were currently vaping THC
- 2.9% (999,000) were using CBD vapes
- 1.8% (620,000) were vaping synthetic cannabinoids
- “Don’t know” responses about synthetic cannabinoid use tripled from 2021 to 2023
That uncertainty represents a growing danger. When teens answer “don’t know” about what they’re vaping, it suggests they’re consuming unregulated products with unknown ingredients and effects.
Gender Patterns Shift in Unexpected Ways
The research revealed surprising gender differences that contradict traditional substance use patterns. Female students showed higher rates of cannabis vaping across all categories compared to males—a reversal from historical trends where boys typically led in substance experimentation.
Among the youngest users, ages 11-13, both THC and synthetic cannabinoid vaping doubled between 2021 and 2023. This early experimentation particularly concerns researchers because adolescent brains remain vulnerable to cannabinoid effects during crucial development years.
“One of the most unexpected findings from our study was the continued rise in adolescent use of SCs,” Chung noted. “This trend is particularly alarming given that these substances are often accessed through unregulated, illicit markets, where there are no safety standards or quality controls.”
Unknown Substances Pose Hidden Dangers
Unlike naturally occurring THC and CBD, synthetic cannabinoids are laboratory-created chemicals designed to mimic cannabis effects. However, they often bind more strongly to brain receptors, creating more intense and unpredictable reactions that can include severe intoxication, psychosis, and even death.
The study found that uncertainty about vaping contents increased dramatically across all cannabis categories. In 2021, only 1.6% of teens didn’t know if they had vaped THC; by 2023, that figure reached 3.7%. For synthetic cannabinoids, “don’t know” responses jumped from 1.8% to 4.7%.
“These synthetic cannabinoids products could potentially be deadly, with many adolescents unknowingly vaping these harmful and synthetic substances,” Chung warned.
Co-investigator Gary C.K. Chan emphasized the knowledge gap surrounding these trends. “We still know very little about the long-term health effects of cannabis vaping, which makes it even more important to understand what’s in your vape.”
Social Media Fuels Teen Interest
The researchers point to several factors driving these trends, including the natural teenage tendencies toward peer influence, curiosity, and desire for social acceptance. But they also highlight modern factors like increased exposure to cannabis marketing on social media platforms.
“This age group may also be increasingly exposed to cannabis-related marketing on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, as well as social media influencers and celebrities,” Chung observed.
The study stands as one of the first to track THC, CBD, and synthetic cannabinoids separately rather than lumping them under broad “cannabis vaping” categories. This distinction matters because these substances produce vastly different psychological and health effects, requiring different public health responses.
While THC vaping appeared to peak in 2022 before declining slightly, synthetic cannabinoid use continued its upward trajectory. This pattern suggests that some teens may be moving toward more dangerous substances as they become available through informal networks and online platforms.
As uncertainty about vaping contents grows and synthetic cannabinoid use climbs, researchers are calling for targeted interventions and better education about the risks teens face when they don’t know what they’re inhaling.
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