Marijuana smoking among 8th graders increased from 12 percent in 1991 to 22 percent in 1997. Among adults, male smoking rates for marijuana are nearly twice those for females. The only exception to the data showing more male smokers of marijuana than females occurs among children and teens. Given that marijuana is by far the most commonly used illicit drug, it is not surprising that gender and age patterns for marijuana are similar to the corresponding patterns for any illicit drug. In general, males are at least three times as likely as females to be past-year marijuana users.
White males have higher marijuana use than black or Hispanic males.
Similarly, white females have higher levels of use than black or Hispanic females. By 1995, that rate had jumped to 25.3 percent. Native Americans are relatively high at ages 12 through 34, but data for Native Americans at age 35 and older are is too sparse to yield a reliable estimate at age 35 and older. Mexicans, South Americans and other Hispanics are about average in past-year marijuana use. Geography Major U.S. metropolitan areas have higher rates of marijuana smoking, but the differences are quite small.