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Daily Marijuana Use Surpasses Alcohol Consumption in the U.S. for First Time in 2022

May 22, 2024, 09:36 PM

A new study published in the journal Addiction reveals that daily and near-daily marijuana use has surpassed similar levels of alcohol consumption in the United States for the first time. According to the analysis of national survey data over four decades, in 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or nearly every day, compared to 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers. This shift marks a significant change in substance use patterns over the past few decades. The study also highlights a dramatic increase in marijuana potency, with the average daily THC consumption rising from 5 mg in the 1990s to 300 mg today. Recreational marijuana use has become more mainstream and legal in nearly half of U.S. states, contributing to the increase in daily users. Additionally, 40% of current cannabis users report using the substance daily or near-daily, a pattern more commonly associated with tobacco use than alcohol. From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased 15-fold.