In 2003, 22 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported using marijuana anywhere during the last 30 days, and 6 percent of students reported using marijuana on school property.

The use of drugs, such as marijuana, at school may lead to a school environment that is harmful to students, teachers, and school administrators. In the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, students in grades 9-12 were asked whether they had used marijuana at all in the past 30 days (referred to as "anywhere" in this analysis) and whether they had used marijuana on school property. In 2003, 22 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported using marijuana anywhere during the last 30 days, whereas 6 percent of students reported using marijuana on school property (table 18.1). The percentage of students who reported using marijuana on school property increased from 6 percent in 1993 to 9 percent in 1995, and then declined between 1995 and 2003 (from 9 to 6 percent). The percentage of students who reported using marijuana anywhere also increased between 1993 and 1995 (from 18 to 25 percent). In 1995, 1997, and 1999, roughly one-quarter of students reported using marijuana anywhere (between 25 and 27 percent); however, by 2003, the percentage of students who reported using marijuana anywhere had declined to 22 percent.

Both students' sex and grade level were associated with use of marijuana. Males were more likely than females to have used marijuana in every survey year, anywhere or on school property (figure 18.1 and table 18.1). For example, in 2003, 8 percent of males and 4 percent of females reported using marijuana on school property. In that same year, students in lower grades were less likely than students in higher grades to report using marijuana anywhere (figure 18.2 and table 18.1). However, no corresponding difference was detected in students' use of marijuana on school property according to grade in school-between 5 and 7 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported such use in 2003.

In 2003, Asian students were less likely than students of all other race/ethnicities to report using marijuana anywhere (10 percent vs. between 22 and 33 percent of students in other racial/ethnic groups). At school, Hispanic students were more likely to report using marijuana than Asian or White students (7 percent vs. 4 and 5 percent, respectively). However, few other differences were found among racial/ethnic groups for students' marijuana use at school.

This indicator has been updated to include 2003 data.