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Daily Marijuana Use Tops Daily Alcohol and Cigarettes in Federal Survey

The shift reflects growing regular cannabis use among older adults with consequences for public health, treatment demand, and regulation following the DEA’s reclassification of some marijuana products to Schedule III.

Overview

  • SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released Monday, reports 21.4 million Americans used marijuana daily or near-daily in 2025, exceeding daily cigarette users (19.9 million) and daily alcohol users (17.2 million).
  • The survey shows past-month cannabis use rose to 15.1% in 2025 from 13.2% in 2021 while past-month alcohol and cigarette use fell to 44.4% and 12.4% respectively over the same period.
  • Past-year marijuana use reached 61.6 million people in 2025 and the measured rate of cannabis use disorder edged up to about 6.7%, with most cases categorized as mild.
  • The overall rise in regular cannabis use was driven by adults 26 and older while teen and young-adult use and new initiation declined, and the survey is based on self-reports from more than 60,000 noninstitutionalized respondents.
  • Policy and public-health responses are evolving after the Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III in April 2026, prompting hearings, advocacy disputes, and potential effects on treatment, enforcement, and the commercial market.