Usual Modes of Marijuana Consumption Among High School Students in Colorado

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of modes of marijuana consumption among Colorado youth and explore variation by demographics, access, substance use, and risk perceptions.

Data are from a 2013 survey of Colorado high school students (N = 25,197; 50.5% female). The outcome variable was usual mode of marijuana consumption (i.e., smoking, vaporizing, ingesting edibles, or other) among those reporting past 30-day marijuana use. Classification variables included sex, grade level, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, current alcohol and cigarette use, frequent marijuana use, early marijuana use (<13 years), perceived harmfulness, and perceived wrongfulness. We calculated prevalence estimates overall and by the variables listed above, and also conducted multinomial logistic regression models.

Findings indicate that 15% of Colorado high school students who use marijuana report that they usually use a mode of consumption other than smoking. Among students reporting past 30-day marijuana use, 85% said smoking was their usual mode of consumption. The remainder reported that their usual mode of consumption was vaporizing (6%), ingesting edibles (5%), or another method (4%). Boys, Whites, Asians, and 12th graders were the most likely to report vaporizing. High perceived harmfulness was associated with vaporizing or ingesting edibles.

The majority of Colorado youth who use marijuana usually smoke it. Youth may be using vaporizers and ingesting edibles as a way to reduce the harm associated with inhaling combusted smoke.