Every day and near-daily marijuana use is now extra widespread than comparable ranges of ingesting within the US, in response to an evaluation of nationwide survey information over 4 many years.
Alcohol remains to be extra broadly used, however 2022 was the primary time this intensive degree of marijuana use overtook high-frequency ingesting, mentioned the examine’s creator, Jonathan Caulkins, a hashish coverage researcher at Carnegie Mellon College.
” 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, based mostly on information 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 estimates of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in the US.
In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million folks used marijuana day by day or near-daily in comparison with 14.7 million day by day or near-daily drinkers, in response to the examine. From 1992 to 2022, the per capita fee of reporting day by day or near-daily marijuana use elevated 15-fold.
The pattern displays modifications in public coverage. Most states now enable 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 reveals that high-frequency customers usually tend to grow to be hooked on marijuana, mentioned Dr. David A. Gorelick, a psychiatry professor on the College of Maryland College of Drugs, who was not concerned within the examine.
The quantity day by day customers means that extra persons are in danger for growing problematic hashish use or dependancy, Gorelick mentioned.
“Excessive frequency use additionally will increase the chance of growing cannabis-associated psychosis,” a extreme situation the place an individual loses contact with actuality, he mentioned.