GITNUXREPORT 2026

Marijuana Use Statistics

Legalization trends are boosting adult marijuana use while youth consumption remains steady.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

U.S. legal cannabis market size reached $29 billion in 2022, Statista

Statistic 2

Employment in cannabis industry: 428,000 full-time equivalent jobs (2023), Leafly Jobs Report

Statistic 3

Tax revenue: California collected $1.15 billion from cannabis taxes in 2022, CDTFA

Statistic 4

Black market still 58% of total U.S. market ($90B est. 2023), Whitney Economics

Statistic 5

Average retail price per ounce: $250 in legal states vs $350 illicit (2023), Headset

Statistic 6

Colorado cannabis tax revenue: $423 million in FY2022, funded schools, Colo. Dept Revenue

Statistic 7

Investment: $3.5 billion in public cannabis stocks (2022), Viridian Capital

Statistic 8

Export value: Canada $300 million CAD legal exports to EU/Australia (2022), StatCan

Statistic 9

Cost savings: Legalization saved U.S. $3.6B in enforcement 2010-2017, ACLU

Statistic 10

Average dispensary revenue: $5.2M annually (2022), BDSA

Statistic 11

Hemp CBD market: $5.3B U.S. sales 2022, Brightfield Group

Statistic 12

Tourism boost: 20% increase in Denver visitors post-legalization, VISIT Denver

Statistic 13

Bankruptcy rate: 15% of cannabis businesses failed 2020-2022, New Frontier Data

Statistic 14

Wage premium: Cannabis workers earn 21% above state average, Leafly

Statistic 15

Global legal market projected $44B by 2025, Prohibition Partners

Statistic 16

Michigan wholesale flower price dropped 50% to $1,200/lb (2023), Headset

Statistic 17

Ancillary services market: $25B (packaging, tech, etc.) 2023, MJBiz

Statistic 18

Tax allocation: 60% of Illinois cannabis tax to general fund ($400M 2022), Illinois IFC

Statistic 19

Consolidation: Top 10 MSOs control 40% of legal sales (2023), Viridian

Statistic 20

R&D spending: $500M annually by major cannabis firms (2022), PitchBook

Statistic 21

Price per gram pre-roll: $5.50 average (2023), Headset

Statistic 22

Medical vs rec sales: 30% medical, 70% recreational in mature markets (2023), BDSA

Statistic 23

Interstate commerce ban costs $4B potential revenue, New Frontier

Statistic 24

Cultivator licenses: 2,000+ issued, but oversupply in 70% of states, Whitney

Statistic 25

Edibles 25% of sales volume, beverages growing 300% YoY (2023), Headset

Statistic 26

Regular marijuana smoking associated with 20-30% increased risk of chronic bronchitis per NIH study (2014)

Statistic 27

THC exposure in pregnancy linked to 2.5 times higher risk of low birth weight, JAMA Pediatrics (2021)

Statistic 28

Cannabis use disorder prevalence among past-year users is 30% per NIDA review (2020)

Statistic 29

Daily use increases schizophrenia risk by 3-5 fold in genetically predisposed individuals, Lancet Psychiatry (2019)

Statistic 30

Acute cannabis intoxication impairs driving by equivalent of 4+ drinks, NHTSA study (2020)

Statistic 31

Vaping THC products linked to EVALI outbreak with 2,800 hospitalizations and 68 deaths (2019-2020), CDC

Statistic 32

Long-term heavy use associated with 40% reduction in IQ points among adolescent starters, PNAS (2012)

Statistic 33

Medical cannabis reduced opioid overdose deaths by 35% in states with legalization, JAMA IM (2020)

Statistic 34

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome cases increased 4-fold post-legalization in Colorado, Annals of IM (2020)

Statistic 35

Adolescent use doubles risk of depression and suicidality in adulthood, JAMA Psychiatry (2021)

Statistic 36

THC impairs memory consolidation, with effects lasting up to 28 days post-abstinence, JAMA (2022)

Statistic 37

CBD shows promise in reducing seizure frequency by 40-50% in Dravet syndrome, NEJM (2017)

Statistic 38

Heavy use linked to 1.5-2x increased risk of testicular cancer, Cancer (2015)

Statistic 39

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms affect 47% of regular users, Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2019)

Statistic 40

Edibles lead to 7x higher rate of ED visits due to over-intoxication vs smoking, Annals of EM (2018)

Statistic 41

Chronic use associated with gum disease and periodontitis in 2.5x higher prevalence, J Periodontol (2017)

Statistic 42

Medical marijuana patients report 64% reduction in nausea for chemotherapy, J Clin Oncol (2001)

Statistic 43

Delta-8 THC products involved in 41,116 poison control calls (2021), CDC MMWR

Statistic 44

Cannabis smoke contains 33 cancer-causing agents similar to tobacco, NIDA (2020)

Statistic 45

Use during adolescence linked to 8x higher risk of cannabis psychosis, Schizophrenia Bulletin (2022)

Statistic 46

Synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice) have 100x higher potency leading to 660% increase in ED visits 2010-2011, SAMHSA

Statistic 47

27% of medical cannabis users discontinued opioids entirely after 6 months, J Pain (2021)

Statistic 48

High-potency THC (>10%) doubles psychosis risk vs low-potency, Lancet Psychiatry (2019)

Statistic 49

Cannabis allergy affects 10-30% of users with rhinitis/asthma, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol (2019)

Statistic 50

Post-legalization, pediatric cannabis exposures rose 150% in Washington state, Clin Tox (2019)

Statistic 51

Regular use impairs lung function similar to tobacco, with FEV1 reduction of 75ml, Chest (2013)

Statistic 52

THC reduces intraocular pressure by 25-30% for glaucoma short-term, but tolerance develops, Ophthalmology (1979)

Statistic 53

Binge drinking reduced by 15% in medical cannabis states, J Health Econ (2020)

Statistic 54

13.7% of U.S. ED visits for psychosis involved cannabis (2019), HCUP data

Statistic 55

Cannabis use in schizophrenia patients worsens symptoms in 70% of cases, Schizophr Res (2018)

Statistic 56

Medical cannabis for chronic pain: 50% of patients report 30% pain reduction, JAMA (2018)

Statistic 57

As of 2023, 24 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana, covering 54% of population, MPP.org tracker

Statistic 58

Federal prohibition under Schedule I since 1970, despite no accepted medical use per DEA

Statistic 59

Cannabis arrests comprised 35% of U.S. drug arrests (91,000) in 2021, FBI UCR

Statistic 60

38 states have medical marijuana programs as of 2023, with varying qualifying conditions, NCSL

Statistic 61

Post-legalization in Colorado, youth use did not increase (stable at 20%), Healthy Kids Colorado Survey 2021

Statistic 62

Interstate cannabis transport illegal federally, leading to 1,200+ seizures in 2022, DEA

Statistic 63

Tax revenue from legal sales: $3.7 billion in 2022 across U.S. states, MJBizDaily

Statistic 64

50% of Americans support full legalization (2023 Gallup poll)

Statistic 65

Uruguay first country to legalize recreational in 2013, with state-controlled market, UNODC

Statistic 66

Canada legalized recreational Dec 2018, home grow limit 4 plants per household, Health Canada

Statistic 67

Hemp production legalized federally 2018 Farm Bill, CBD <0.3% THC, USDA

Statistic 68

Black Americans 3.6x more likely to be arrested for possession despite similar use rates, ACLU (2020)

Statistic 69

Germany legalized personal possession up to 25g and home grow 3 plants (2024), Reuters

Statistic 70

Expungements: Over 2 million marijuana convictions cleared in U.S. states post-legalization, Last Prisoner Project

Statistic 71

Federal banking restrictions under 280E tax code cost industry $3B+ annually, Leafly

Statistic 72

Mexico legalized recreational 2021 but supply chain stalled, regulated market pending, Brookings

Statistic 73

Youth possession citations dropped 90% in Denver post-legalization (2014-2020), Denver PD

Statistic 74

15 states have decriminalized possession (civil penalty only) as of 2023, NORML

Statistic 75

EU countries: Malta legalized recreational 2021 (7g possession), EMCDDA

Statistic 76

U.S. military: Zero tolerance, THC positive discharges up 200% post-legalization nearby, DoD

Statistic 77

Workplace drug testing: 55% of U.S. employers test for cannabis (2023), Quest Diagnostics

Statistic 78

Legal sales outlets: 15,000+ nationwide (2023), Headset.io

Statistic 79

International treaties: UN Single Convention 1961 mandates control, WHO review ongoing

Statistic 80

U.S. states with bans on public consumption: 80% of legal states, MPP

Statistic 81

Legal age: 21 in all U.S. recreational states, matching alcohol/tobacco

Statistic 82

Home delivery legalized in 10 states (2023), Leafly

Statistic 83

Possession limits: Average 1-2 oz in recreational states, NCSL

Statistic 84

Tax rates average 20-30% (excise + sales) in legal states, BDSA

Statistic 85

In 2022, 52.5 million people aged 12 or older in the United States (18.7% of the population) used marijuana in the past year according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

Statistic 86

Past month marijuana use among U.S. adults aged 18+ increased from 7.5% in 2015 to 15.6% in 2021 per CDC data

Statistic 87

In 2021, 18.2% of U.S. high school students reported current marijuana use (past 30 days), down from 22.7% in 2019, from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

Statistic 88

Lifetime marijuana use among U.S. adults rose to 45.1% in 2021 from 40.5% in 2015, NSDUH 2021

Statistic 89

In Canada, 26% of the population aged 15+ reported past-year cannabis use in 2022, up from 15% pre-legalization, per Canadian Cannabis Survey

Statistic 90

Among U.S. college students, past-year marijuana use was 39% in 2021, according to Monitoring the Future

Statistic 91

Daily or near-daily marijuana use among U.S. adults tripled from 0.9% in 2015 to 2.8% in 2022, JAMA Psychiatry study

Statistic 92

In Europe, 7.1% of adults aged 15-64 used cannabis in the past year (2022), EMCDDA data

Statistic 93

U.S. past-month use among 12-17 year olds was 5.7% in 2022, stable from prior years, NSDUH

Statistic 94

In states with recreational legalization, adult past-year use averaged 25.3% vs 15.2% in non-legal states (2021), CDC BRFSS

Statistic 95

22.0 million U.S. people aged 12+ initiated marijuana use in the past year (2022), representing 7.9% of the population, NSDUH

Statistic 96

Among pregnant women in U.S., past-month marijuana use was 5.5% (2020), NSDUH

Statistic 97

Edibles use among past-year U.S. marijuana users was 28.6% in 2021, NSDUH

Statistic 98

Vaping marijuana past-year use among U.S. youth 12-17 was 12.1% in 2021, NSDUH

Statistic 99

In Australia, 11.4% of population aged 14+ used cannabis in past 12 months (2019), National Drug Strategy Household Survey

Statistic 100

U.S. adults aged 26+ had 21.6% past-year marijuana use in 2022, highest ever, NSDUH

Statistic 101

Past 30-day use among U.S. males was 17.1% vs 10.3% for females (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 102

In New Zealand, 14.1% of adults used cannabis past year (2023), NZ Health Survey

Statistic 103

Frequent use (20+ days/month) among U.S. past-year users was 14.7% in 2021, NSDUH

Statistic 104

Global past-year cannabis use estimated at 209 million people (2022), UNODC World Drug Report

Statistic 105

In Colorado, adult past 30-day use was 19.5% in 2021 post-legalization, Colorado Health Access Survey

Statistic 106

U.S. past-year use disorder among marijuana users was 10.2% (2021), NSDUH

Statistic 107

Among U.S. 18-25 year olds, past-month use was 24.9% in 2022, NSDUH

Statistic 108

In Uruguay, post-legalization (2013), prevalence stabilized at 9.4% past-year (2019), IDPC survey

Statistic 109

Dabbing (concentrates) use past-year among U.S. users 12+ was 8.9% (2021), NSDUH

Statistic 110

Past-year use in U.S. rural areas was 16.3% vs 19.9% urban (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 111

In the UK, 16.1% of adults aged 16-59 used cannabis past year (2022), Crime Survey England & Wales

Statistic 112

U.S. first-time use among 12-17 dropped to 3.4 million in 2022 from 4.2 million in 2019, NSDUH

Statistic 113

Concentrate use past 30 days among youth was 4.2% (2022), Monitoring the Future

Statistic 114

In California, 2021 adult past-year use was 27.6%, California Health Care Foundation

Statistic 115

Chronic daily use among U.S. adults aged 12+ was 6.5 million people (2.3%) in 2022, NSDUH

Statistic 116

Past-year use highest among U.S. Hispanics at 22.5% (2022), vs Whites 18.1%, NSDUH

Statistic 117

Among U.S. 12-17 year olds, past-month use higher in males 6.3% vs females 5.1% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 118

Urban U.S. adults past-year use 20.1% vs rural 16.5% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 119

Lifetime use among U.S. Baby Boomers (55+) reached 36.4% in 2021, NSDUH

Statistic 120

Among U.S. Blacks, past-year use 19.4% similar to Whites but arrests 4x higher, NSDUH/ACLU

Statistic 121

College graduates have 15% lower past-month use vs non-grads (25+), NSDUH 2022

Statistic 122

Past-year use among U.S. LGBTQ+ youth 32% vs 15% straight (2021), Trevor Project

Statistic 123

Among 18-25, past-month use highest in Native Americans 28.7% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 124

Women aged 50+ saw 250% increase in past-year use 2015-2021, JAMA Network Open

Statistic 125

High school seniors daily use 8.2% boys vs 3.9% girls (2022), Monitoring the Future

Statistic 126

Past-year use among U.S. unemployed 26.1% vs employed 17.4% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 127

In Canada, Indigenous people past-year use 29% vs national 23% (2022), CCS

Statistic 128

U.S. veterans past-year use 21% vs civilians 18% (2021), VA study

Statistic 129

Among low-income (<$20k) U.S. adults, past-month use 20.3% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 130

12th graders in non-legal states use similar to legal states (18.6% past-year 2022), MTF

Statistic 131

Past-month use peaks at age 18-25 (24.9%), drops to 11.4% at 35-50 (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 132

Among U.S. Asians, lowest past-year use 9.2% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 133

Married adults past-year use 13.2% vs never married 28.4% (2022), NSDUH

Statistic 134

Youth in Colorado post-legalization: 19% past-year vs national 15% (high school 2021), CDPHE

Statistic 135

U.S. adults with mental illness past-year use 27.1% vs 16.5% without (2021), NSDUH

Statistic 136

Among 26+ with children at home, past-month use 12.8% (2022), NSDUH

1/136

Sources

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With more than 52 million Americans using marijuana last year alone, the once-taboo plant has firmly rooted itself into the mainstream, sparking a complex national conversation that we can no longer ignore.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, 52.5 million people aged 12 or older in the United States (18.7% of the population) used marijuana in the past year according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
Past month marijuana use among U.S. adults aged 18+ increased from 7.5% in 2015 to 15.6% in 2021 per CDC data
In 2021, 18.2% of U.S. high school students reported current marijuana use (past 30 days), down from 22.7% in 2019, from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
Regular marijuana smoking associated with 20-30% increased risk of chronic bronchitis per NIH study (2014)
THC exposure in pregnancy linked to 2.5 times higher risk of low birth weight, JAMA Pediatrics (2021)
Cannabis use disorder prevalence among past-year users is 30% per NIDA review (2020)
As of 2023, 24 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana, covering 54% of population, MPP.org tracker
Federal prohibition under Schedule I since 1970, despite no accepted medical use per DEA
Cannabis arrests comprised 35% of U.S. drug arrests (91,000) in 2021, FBI UCR
U.S. legal cannabis market size reached $29 billion in 2022, Statista
Employment in cannabis industry: 428,000 full-time equivalent jobs (2023), Leafly Jobs Report
Tax revenue: California collected $1.15 billion from cannabis taxes in 2022, CDTFA
Past-year use highest among U.S. Hispanics at 22.5% (2022), vs Whites 18.1%, NSDUH
Among U.S. 12-17 year olds, past-month use higher in males 6.3% vs females 5.1% (2022), NSDUH
Urban U.S. adults past-year use 20.1% vs rural 16.5% (2022), NSDUH

Legalization trends are boosting adult marijuana use while youth consumption remains steady.

Economic Aspects

U.S. legal cannabis market size reached $29 billion in 2022, Statista
Employment in cannabis industry: 428,000 full-time equivalent jobs (2023), Leafly Jobs Report
Tax revenue: California collected $1.15 billion from cannabis taxes in 2022, CDTFA
Black market still 58% of total U.S. market ($90B est. 2023), Whitney Economics
Average retail price per ounce: $250 in legal states vs $350 illicit (2023), Headset
Colorado cannabis tax revenue: $423 million in FY2022, funded schools, Colo. Dept Revenue
Investment: $3.5 billion in public cannabis stocks (2022), Viridian Capital
Export value: Canada $300 million CAD legal exports to EU/Australia (2022), StatCan
Cost savings: Legalization saved U.S. $3.6B in enforcement 2010-2017, ACLU
Average dispensary revenue: $5.2M annually (2022), BDSA
Hemp CBD market: $5.3B U.S. sales 2022, Brightfield Group
Tourism boost: 20% increase in Denver visitors post-legalization, VISIT Denver
Bankruptcy rate: 15% of cannabis businesses failed 2020-2022, New Frontier Data
Wage premium: Cannabis workers earn 21% above state average, Leafly
Global legal market projected $44B by 2025, Prohibition Partners
Michigan wholesale flower price dropped 50% to $1,200/lb (2023), Headset
Ancillary services market: $25B (packaging, tech, etc.) 2023, MJBiz
Tax allocation: 60% of Illinois cannabis tax to general fund ($400M 2022), Illinois IFC
Consolidation: Top 10 MSOs control 40% of legal sales (2023), Viridian
R&D spending: $500M annually by major cannabis firms (2022), PitchBook
Price per gram pre-roll: $5.50 average (2023), Headset
Medical vs rec sales: 30% medical, 70% recreational in mature markets (2023), BDSA
Interstate commerce ban costs $4B potential revenue, New Frontier
Cultivator licenses: 2,000+ issued, but oversupply in 70% of states, Whitney
Edibles 25% of sales volume, beverages growing 300% YoY (2023), Headset

Economic Aspects Interpretation

While the legal American cannabis industry now fuels a $29 billion economy, pays a 21% wage premium, and funds schools with substantial tax revenue, its surprisingly higher quality and lower price still haven't convinced the majority of the $90 billion illicit market to come in from the cold.

Health Risks and Benefits

Regular marijuana smoking associated with 20-30% increased risk of chronic bronchitis per NIH study (2014)
THC exposure in pregnancy linked to 2.5 times higher risk of low birth weight, JAMA Pediatrics (2021)
Cannabis use disorder prevalence among past-year users is 30% per NIDA review (2020)
Daily use increases schizophrenia risk by 3-5 fold in genetically predisposed individuals, Lancet Psychiatry (2019)
Acute cannabis intoxication impairs driving by equivalent of 4+ drinks, NHTSA study (2020)
Vaping THC products linked to EVALI outbreak with 2,800 hospitalizations and 68 deaths (2019-2020), CDC
Long-term heavy use associated with 40% reduction in IQ points among adolescent starters, PNAS (2012)
Medical cannabis reduced opioid overdose deaths by 35% in states with legalization, JAMA IM (2020)
Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome cases increased 4-fold post-legalization in Colorado, Annals of IM (2020)
Adolescent use doubles risk of depression and suicidality in adulthood, JAMA Psychiatry (2021)
THC impairs memory consolidation, with effects lasting up to 28 days post-abstinence, JAMA (2022)
CBD shows promise in reducing seizure frequency by 40-50% in Dravet syndrome, NEJM (2017)
Heavy use linked to 1.5-2x increased risk of testicular cancer, Cancer (2015)
Cannabis withdrawal symptoms affect 47% of regular users, Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2019)
Edibles lead to 7x higher rate of ED visits due to over-intoxication vs smoking, Annals of EM (2018)
Chronic use associated with gum disease and periodontitis in 2.5x higher prevalence, J Periodontol (2017)
Medical marijuana patients report 64% reduction in nausea for chemotherapy, J Clin Oncol (2001)
Delta-8 THC products involved in 41,116 poison control calls (2021), CDC MMWR
Cannabis smoke contains 33 cancer-causing agents similar to tobacco, NIDA (2020)
Use during adolescence linked to 8x higher risk of cannabis psychosis, Schizophrenia Bulletin (2022)
Synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice) have 100x higher potency leading to 660% increase in ED visits 2010-2011, SAMHSA
27% of medical cannabis users discontinued opioids entirely after 6 months, J Pain (2021)
High-potency THC (>10%) doubles psychosis risk vs low-potency, Lancet Psychiatry (2019)
Cannabis allergy affects 10-30% of users with rhinitis/asthma, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol (2019)
Post-legalization, pediatric cannabis exposures rose 150% in Washington state, Clin Tox (2019)
Regular use impairs lung function similar to tobacco, with FEV1 reduction of 75ml, Chest (2013)
THC reduces intraocular pressure by 25-30% for glaucoma short-term, but tolerance develops, Ophthalmology (1979)
Binge drinking reduced by 15% in medical cannabis states, J Health Econ (2020)
13.7% of U.S. ED visits for psychosis involved cannabis (2019), HCUP data
Cannabis use in schizophrenia patients worsens symptoms in 70% of cases, Schizophr Res (2018)
Medical cannabis for chronic pain: 50% of patients report 30% pain reduction, JAMA (2018)

Health Risks and Benefits Interpretation

The research paints a complex and cautionary portrait: cannabis offers real medical relief for some conditions while posing serious and varied risks to physical health, mental well-being, and public safety, proving it is far from a harmless substance.

Legalization and Policy

As of 2023, 24 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana, covering 54% of population, MPP.org tracker
Federal prohibition under Schedule I since 1970, despite no accepted medical use per DEA
Cannabis arrests comprised 35% of U.S. drug arrests (91,000) in 2021, FBI UCR
38 states have medical marijuana programs as of 2023, with varying qualifying conditions, NCSL
Post-legalization in Colorado, youth use did not increase (stable at 20%), Healthy Kids Colorado Survey 2021
Interstate cannabis transport illegal federally, leading to 1,200+ seizures in 2022, DEA
Tax revenue from legal sales: $3.7 billion in 2022 across U.S. states, MJBizDaily
50% of Americans support full legalization (2023 Gallup poll)
Uruguay first country to legalize recreational in 2013, with state-controlled market, UNODC
Canada legalized recreational Dec 2018, home grow limit 4 plants per household, Health Canada
Hemp production legalized federally 2018 Farm Bill, CBD <0.3% THC, USDA
Black Americans 3.6x more likely to be arrested for possession despite similar use rates, ACLU (2020)
Germany legalized personal possession up to 25g and home grow 3 plants (2024), Reuters
Expungements: Over 2 million marijuana convictions cleared in U.S. states post-legalization, Last Prisoner Project
Federal banking restrictions under 280E tax code cost industry $3B+ annually, Leafly
Mexico legalized recreational 2021 but supply chain stalled, regulated market pending, Brookings
Youth possession citations dropped 90% in Denver post-legalization (2014-2020), Denver PD
15 states have decriminalized possession (civil penalty only) as of 2023, NORML
EU countries: Malta legalized recreational 2021 (7g possession), EMCDDA
U.S. military: Zero tolerance, THC positive discharges up 200% post-legalization nearby, DoD
Workplace drug testing: 55% of U.S. employers test for cannabis (2023), Quest Diagnostics
Legal sales outlets: 15,000+ nationwide (2023), Headset.io
International treaties: UN Single Convention 1961 mandates control, WHO review ongoing
U.S. states with bans on public consumption: 80% of legal states, MPP
Legal age: 21 in all U.S. recreational states, matching alcohol/tobacco
Home delivery legalized in 10 states (2023), Leafly
Possession limits: Average 1-2 oz in recreational states, NCSL
Tax rates average 20-30% (excise + sales) in legal states, BDSA

Legalization and Policy Interpretation

The absurd reality of U.S. cannabis policy is that half the population can legally buy a plant from a state-licensed store while the federal government still classifies it as more dangerous than methamphetamine, a contradiction that has fueled racial disparities, wasted billions in tax revenue, and created a thriving market that banks can't touch.

Prevalence and Usage

In 2022, 52.5 million people aged 12 or older in the United States (18.7% of the population) used marijuana in the past year according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
Past month marijuana use among U.S. adults aged 18+ increased from 7.5% in 2015 to 15.6% in 2021 per CDC data
In 2021, 18.2% of U.S. high school students reported current marijuana use (past 30 days), down from 22.7% in 2019, from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
Lifetime marijuana use among U.S. adults rose to 45.1% in 2021 from 40.5% in 2015, NSDUH 2021
In Canada, 26% of the population aged 15+ reported past-year cannabis use in 2022, up from 15% pre-legalization, per Canadian Cannabis Survey
Among U.S. college students, past-year marijuana use was 39% in 2021, according to Monitoring the Future
Daily or near-daily marijuana use among U.S. adults tripled from 0.9% in 2015 to 2.8% in 2022, JAMA Psychiatry study
In Europe, 7.1% of adults aged 15-64 used cannabis in the past year (2022), EMCDDA data
U.S. past-month use among 12-17 year olds was 5.7% in 2022, stable from prior years, NSDUH
In states with recreational legalization, adult past-year use averaged 25.3% vs 15.2% in non-legal states (2021), CDC BRFSS
22.0 million U.S. people aged 12+ initiated marijuana use in the past year (2022), representing 7.9% of the population, NSDUH
Among pregnant women in U.S., past-month marijuana use was 5.5% (2020), NSDUH
Edibles use among past-year U.S. marijuana users was 28.6% in 2021, NSDUH
Vaping marijuana past-year use among U.S. youth 12-17 was 12.1% in 2021, NSDUH
In Australia, 11.4% of population aged 14+ used cannabis in past 12 months (2019), National Drug Strategy Household Survey
U.S. adults aged 26+ had 21.6% past-year marijuana use in 2022, highest ever, NSDUH
Past 30-day use among U.S. males was 17.1% vs 10.3% for females (2022), NSDUH
In New Zealand, 14.1% of adults used cannabis past year (2023), NZ Health Survey
Frequent use (20+ days/month) among U.S. past-year users was 14.7% in 2021, NSDUH
Global past-year cannabis use estimated at 209 million people (2022), UNODC World Drug Report
In Colorado, adult past 30-day use was 19.5% in 2021 post-legalization, Colorado Health Access Survey
U.S. past-year use disorder among marijuana users was 10.2% (2021), NSDUH
Among U.S. 18-25 year olds, past-month use was 24.9% in 2022, NSDUH
In Uruguay, post-legalization (2013), prevalence stabilized at 9.4% past-year (2019), IDPC survey
Dabbing (concentrates) use past-year among U.S. users 12+ was 8.9% (2021), NSDUH
Past-year use in U.S. rural areas was 16.3% vs 19.9% urban (2022), NSDUH
In the UK, 16.1% of adults aged 16-59 used cannabis past year (2022), Crime Survey England & Wales
U.S. first-time use among 12-17 dropped to 3.4 million in 2022 from 4.2 million in 2019, NSDUH
Concentrate use past 30 days among youth was 4.2% (2022), Monitoring the Future
In California, 2021 adult past-year use was 27.6%, California Health Care Foundation
Chronic daily use among U.S. adults aged 12+ was 6.5 million people (2.3%) in 2022, NSDUH

Prevalence and Usage Interpretation

While the occasional user is now statistically as common as the left-handed American, the real story isn't just the widespread acceptance of cannabis but the sharp rise in daily use, suggesting we're swapping one set of public health concerns for another as legalization rolls on.

Youth and Demographics

Past-year use highest among U.S. Hispanics at 22.5% (2022), vs Whites 18.1%, NSDUH
Among U.S. 12-17 year olds, past-month use higher in males 6.3% vs females 5.1% (2022), NSDUH
Urban U.S. adults past-year use 20.1% vs rural 16.5% (2022), NSDUH
Lifetime use among U.S. Baby Boomers (55+) reached 36.4% in 2021, NSDUH
Among U.S. Blacks, past-year use 19.4% similar to Whites but arrests 4x higher, NSDUH/ACLU
College graduates have 15% lower past-month use vs non-grads (25+), NSDUH 2022
Past-year use among U.S. LGBTQ+ youth 32% vs 15% straight (2021), Trevor Project
Among 18-25, past-month use highest in Native Americans 28.7% (2022), NSDUH
Women aged 50+ saw 250% increase in past-year use 2015-2021, JAMA Network Open
High school seniors daily use 8.2% boys vs 3.9% girls (2022), Monitoring the Future
Past-year use among U.S. unemployed 26.1% vs employed 17.4% (2022), NSDUH
In Canada, Indigenous people past-year use 29% vs national 23% (2022), CCS
U.S. veterans past-year use 21% vs civilians 18% (2021), VA study
Among low-income (<$20k) U.S. adults, past-month use 20.3% (2022), NSDUH
12th graders in non-legal states use similar to legal states (18.6% past-year 2022), MTF
Past-month use peaks at age 18-25 (24.9%), drops to 11.4% at 35-50 (2022), NSDUH
Among U.S. Asians, lowest past-year use 9.2% (2022), NSDUH
Married adults past-year use 13.2% vs never married 28.4% (2022), NSDUH
Youth in Colorado post-legalization: 19% past-year vs national 15% (high school 2021), CDPHE
U.S. adults with mental illness past-year use 27.1% vs 16.5% without (2021), NSDUH
Among 26+ with children at home, past-month use 12.8% (2022), NSDUH

Youth and Demographics Interpretation

While these numbers reveal a society increasingly partaking—from Baby Boomers reliving their youth to stressed teens and veterans—they also starkly highlight that our laws and social support systems are failing, as the burden of use and its consequences falls disproportionately on marginalized communities, the mentally ill, the unemployed, and especially on Black Americans who face identical usage rates but wildly disproportionate punishment.

Sources & References

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