Millions of individuals within the U.S. report utilizing marijuana day by day or practically every single day, based on an analysis of national survey data, and people individuals now outnumber those that say they’re day by day or nearly-daily drinkers of alcohol.
Alcohol remains to be extra extensively used, however 2022 was the primary time this intensive degree of marijuana use overtook day by day and near-daily consuming, mentioned the examine’s creator, Jonathan Caulkins, a hashish coverage researcher at Carnegie Mellon College.
“A great 40% of present hashish customers are utilizing it day by day or close to day by day, a sample that’s extra related to tobacco use than typical alcohol use,” Caulkins mentioned.
The analysis, primarily based on knowledge from the Nationwide Survey on Drug Use and Well being, was revealed Wednesday within the journal Habit. The survey is a extremely regarded supply of self-reported estimates of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in the US.
In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million individuals reported utilizing marijuana day by day or near-daily in comparison with 14.7 million day by day or near-daily drinkers, based on the examine.
From 1992 to 2022, the per capita price of reporting day by day or near-daily marijuana use elevated 15-fold. Caulkins acknowledged within the examine that individuals could also be extra prepared to report marijuana use as public acceptance grows, which may increase the rise.
Most states now allow medical or leisure marijuana, although it stays unlawful on the federal degree. In November, Florida voters will resolve on a constitutional modification permitting leisure hashish, and the federal authorities is shifting to reclassify marijuana as a much less harmful drug.
Analysis exhibits that high-frequency customers usually tend to change into hooked on marijuana, mentioned Dr. David A. Gorelick, a psychiatry professor on the College of Maryland College of Medication, who was not concerned within the examine.
The variety of day by day customers means that extra persons are in danger for creating problematic hashish use or dependancy, Gorelick mentioned.
“Excessive frequency use additionally will increase the chance of creating cannabis-associated psychosis,” a extreme situation the place an individual loses contact with actuality, he mentioned.
