Cannabis / Marijuana
Cannabis use in Australia
Marijuana/cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia. One third of the Australian population is reported to have used marijuana at some time in their lives.
National population survey data collected
- In 1998, 39 per cent of the Australian population (44 per cent male and 35 per cent female) reported having ever used cannabis; and 18 per cent had used it in the previous 12 months
- In 1998, the average age of first time use of cannabis was 18.7 years.
- Of the recent users in 1998, the highest user group at 37 per cent was the 20-29 year age group.
- Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance among secondary students with 36 per cent of all secondary students aged between 12 and 17 years reporting the use of cannabis at some time in their life.
- Cannabis use (taken at sometime in their life) increased with age, increasing from 13 per cent of 12-year-olds to 55 per cent of 17-year-olds.
- Weekly use also increased with age, from 3 per cent of 12-year-olds to 16 per cent of 17-year-olds.
Weekly use was more common among boys than girls.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2001
National Drug Strategy Household Survey 1 , of Australians aged 14 and over in 2001: - One in every three had used cannabis at some time in their lives and 13 per cent had used cannabis in the previous 12 months.
- Males were more likely to use cannabis than females.
- People aged 20–29 years were more likely to have used cannabis than any other age group
- Of those who had used cannabis at some stage in their lives, the mean initiation age was 18.5.
There is a strong association between marijuana use and other drug use, notably other illicit drugs. Tobacco use remains an important association with marijuana among adolescents.
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