Marijuana Smoking on US College Campuses Highest Since 1980

A study released on Tuesday revealed that the number of college students in the United States smoking marijuana daily is greater than it was in last 35 years. According to the study, the numbers are increasing every day.

The study released on Tuesday discovered that about 6% US college students confirmed that they enjoy daily pot smoking in 2014. The figure was up by more than 2% from the figures in 2007 (3.5% in 2007). The 6% figure in 2014 was slightly lower than 7.2% recorded figure in 1980, according to study conducted by Monitoring the Future of the University of Michigan.

Lloyd Johnston, lead author of the study, said, “It's clear that for the past seven or eight years there has been an increase in marijuana use among the nation's college students. And this largely parallels an increase we have been seeing among high school seniors”.

The study blamed loosened marijuana policies in many US states for the rise in marijuana use by young individuals and teens. Last year, just 35% young adults, 19-to-22-year-old, said they thought daily marijuana use could be harmful for health compared to 55% in 2006, according to the study.

The study also revealed that more students are using illicit drugs today compared to students taking the drugs in 2006. In 2014, about 41% college students reported to use an illicit drug. In 2006, only 34% students said they used an illegal drug, the study said.