Study data came from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Male athletes had a higher incidence of marijuana use than non-athletes. The same was not true for female athletes, who engaged in less marijuana use than their non-athlete counterparts. Also, female athletes were more likely than non-athletes to wait until their post-high school years to try the drug for the first time. These findings imply the need for a greater emphasis on educating high school male athletes about marijuana use. Programs designed to inform these athletes about the detrimental effects of marijuana might be sound policy. Further, educators and coaches should recognize the propensity for female athletic participants to postpone trying marijuana until after high school. It is important that high school drug education for female athletes not be ignored simply because they are less likely to be current users. Tables, references