Only 50-year-olds are mentioned because this is a longitudinal cohort they've been testing since 1977, and this year (2009) it's their turn to be reported.
The "adjusted" number is higher than the measured number because some people answered the survey ten years ago saying they'd tried marijuana in the past year but then in the current survey the same respondent said "no" when asked if they'd ever tried marijuana in their lifetime. So they're publishing both the actual numbers and the "we know you're probably lying" numbers.
It's explained the study.
"About this time is where I say a study has too many methodological flaws and should be disregarded."
Try actually reading it. It's really not that difficult to understand. The 'maturity recanting effect' section here also gives a brief summary of what they did and why:
http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/statistics/statistics_ar...
Don't criticize studies without taking the time to understand them, otherwise you just sound like these people:
It's also charming that you cite erowid.org as a reliable unbiased source. I am familiar with the site and have read it. It is a radical pro-drug site.
Even their legal articles don't take any position on what drug policy should be, all they do is explain the case law that exists.
1977 has got to have been the historical peak of high school usage. I notice they don't mention 51 year olds or 49 year olds, they have specifically pulled out this one exact age for this statistic.
It then goes on to say that 29-30 yr olds have a 68% "adjusted" lifetime prevalence. What does that mean adjusted? It means the actual number they measured is lower (32% for 19-30 year olds), and they tweaked it upwards because they wanted a bigger number.
About this time is where I say a study has too many methodological flaws and should be disregarded.