Millions of individuals within the U.S. say they use marijuana every day or almost every day, and there at the moment are more people than those that say they drink alcohol every day or almost every day, in keeping with an evaluation of national survey data.
“A good 40% of current cannabis users use it daily or nearly daily, a pattern more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol consumption,” Caulkins said.
The study relies on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and was published Wednesday within the journal Addiction. The survey is a highly respected source of self-reported estimates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use within the United States.
In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana every day or almost every day, in comparison with 14.7 million individuals who drank it every day or almost every day, in keeping with the study.
From 1992 to 2022, the number of individuals using marijuana every day or almost every day increased 15-fold per capita. Caulkins acknowledged within the study that as public acceptance increases, people could also be more willing to report their marijuana use, which could exacerbate the rise.
Most states now allow marijuana for medical or recreational use, however it stays illegal on the federal level. In November, Florida voters will vote on a constitutional amendment allowing recreational cannabis, and the federal government is moving to categorise marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
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