Simonsen Renews Call for Cannabis Education Bill as Teen Use Surges
Nearly one in three high school seniors report cannabis use, with addiction rates among teens nearly doubling over the past decade
Cape May Court House, N.J. — Assemblyman Erik K. Simonsen (R-Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland) is renewing his call for passage of legislation to strengthen cannabis education in New Jersey public schools as new data shows rising use and addiction among teenagers nationwide.
Assembly Bill A1428 would require the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to include age-appropriate instruction on the risks of cannabis and marijuana use for students in grades three through 12. The measure ensures students receive factual, science-based information on how cannabis affects the developing brain and body, the risks of addiction, impaired driving, and the differences between medicinal and recreational use.
The bill is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Antwan L. McClellan and builds on existing substance-abuse education requirements already in place in New Jersey schools. The measure would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Recent CDC-linked data highlights the urgency of the issue. Nationally, 30.7 percent of U.S. high school seniors report using cannabis in the past year, and 6.3 percent report daily use in the past 30 days. Cannabis vaping has also become increasingly common among younger students, reported by 6 percent of 8th graders, 15 percent of 10th graders, and 21 percent of 12th graders. At the same time, cannabis use disorder among youth ages 12 to 17 has nearly doubled over the past decade, increasing from approximately 667,000 to about 1.2 million teens nationwide.
“These numbers make it clear that this is not a distant or abstract problem and it’s happening right now, in classrooms and communities across the country,” said Simonsen. “As cannabis becomes more accessible and more potent, we owe it to students and parents to provide honest, age-appropriate education about the risks.”
The legislation directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Division of Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, to ensure the curriculum reflects current medical research and developmental science. Instruction would address the effects of THC, addiction risks, impaired decision-making, and the social and environmental pressures that influence youth behavior.
“This bill is not about politics or prohibition,” added McClellan. “It’s about prevention, transparency, and giving young people the information they need to make responsible choices. Legal does not mean harmless, especially for developing brains.”