A recent analysis of national survey data reveals that daily or nearly daily marijuana use now surpasses daily or near-daily alcohol consumption in the U.S. According to the study’s author, Jonathan Caulkins from Carnegie Mellon University, about 40% of current cannabis users are using it at the same frequency as tobacco, rather than alcohol.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, utilized information from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a trusted source of self-reported data on substance use in the U.S. In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported daily or near-daily marijuana use, exceeding the 14.7 million individuals reporting the same frequency of alcohol consumption.
The rise in high-frequency marijuana use over the past few decades has been significant, with experts warning of potential addiction risks and cannabis-associated psychosis. Despite the increasing acceptance of marijuana, particularly with more states legalizing it for medical and recreational use, concerns about addiction and mental health effects remain.
As public attitudes towards marijuana continue to evolve, the ongoing research on its impact on daily users underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the potential risks associated with high-frequency cannabis consumption.
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