The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress
Adolescents in California consistently perceive cannabis as less harmful than other commonly used substances, according to a new study analyzing data from two large statewide school surveys.
The findings show a clear and persistent pattern: Cannabis is viewed as the least harmful substance among respondents. In the earlier survey, about two-thirds of adolescents considered regular cannabis use harmful, compared to higher proportions for alcohol, vaping and cigarettes.
While perceptions of harm were lower across all substances for occasional use, cannabis remained the least concerning to teens. These trends held steady in the 2024 data, suggesting that adolescents’ relatively low perception of cannabis-related risk has remained consistent over time.
Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-teens-view-cannabis-alcohol-vapes.html