Changes in Self-Reported Cannabis Use in U.S. from 1979 to 2022

 

According to a recent study by researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University published in the journal Addiction on May 22, 2024, the number of Americans who use marijuana in some form every day is surpassing the number of people who drink alcohol for the first time in U.S. history. 

Alcohol is still widely used, but 2022 was the first time this intensive level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily drinking. The cannabis research in this study, conducted by Carnegie-Mellon professor Jonathan Caulkins, is based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Reports show that daily or near daily marijuana use grew by 269% from 2008 to 2022. Meanwhile, the prevalence of daily or near daily alcohol use fell by 7%. In 2022, the median drinker reported consuming alcohol on 4-5 days in the previous month, compared with 15-16 days for the typical marijuana user. 

Big picture numbers in the study show:

*An estimated 17 million people report using some form of cannabis daily compared to 14.7 million using alcohol

*74% of Americans live in states where medical or recreational uses of marijuana are legal (source: Pew Research)

*40% of all current cannabis users report using it daily or nearly daily

Researcher Jonathan Caulkins noted that trends of cannabis consumption from 1979-2022 have corresponded with policy restricting or expanding marijuana use saying, “…cannabis use now appears to be on a fundamentally different scale than it was before legalization.”

The study relied on self-reported data and acknowledged that participants' willingness to self-report may correspond with increased public acceptance for marijuana use. 

Increased THC Toxicity Concern: The amount of the chemical THC contained in marijuana has skyrocketed from 1.5% a few decades ago to THC concentration levels of 30%–50% present day. High concentrations of THC can lead to cannabis use disorder, increased emergency room visits, and elevated suicide risk. For those with underlying mental health issues, high concentrations of THC in marijuana can increase anxiety and depression and interfere with daily function and performance.

Access the study:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16519