Shift in Marijuana and Alcohol Consumption Habits
For the first time, the number of Americans who use marijuana just about every day has surpassed the number who drink that often. This shift has been in the making for about 40 years as recreational pot use became more mainstream and legal in nearly half of US states.
Statistics and Analysis
In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near-daily compared to 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers, according to an analysis of national survey data. Back in 1992, daily pot use hit a low point with less than 1 million people using marijuana nearly every day.
Expert Insights
Alcohol is still more widely used, but 2022 marked the first time that this intensive level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily drinking. Jonathan Caulkins, a cannabis policy researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that about 40% of current cannabis users are using it daily or near daily, a pattern more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use.
Research Findings and Implications
The research, based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, was published in the journal Addiction. The survey provides self-reported estimates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use in the United States. From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased 15-fold. Caulkins suggested that as public acceptance of marijuana grows, people may be more willing to report its use, potentially contributing to the increase.
Legal Landscape and Health Concerns
Most states now allow medical or recreational marijuana, despite its federal illegality. In November, Florida voters will decide on a constitutional amendment for recreational cannabis, and there are movements to reclassify marijuana at the federal level. Dr. David A. Gorelick, a psychiatry professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, highlighted that high-frequency marijuana users are more prone to addiction. He also pointed out the increased risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis with high-frequency use, a severe condition where an individual loses touch with reality.
