U.S. Cannabis Use Surges Among Daily Users and Seniors
Federal data shows that in 2025 an estimated 21.4 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana on at least 20 of the previous 30 days, surpassing daily cigarette smokers (19.9 million) and frequent alcohol consumers (17.2 million). The number of daily or almost‑daily cannabis users has risen by nearly 4 million since 2021.
Among older adults, the share of U.S. seniors (65+) who reported cannabis use in the past month increased from 4.8 % in 2021 to 7 % in 2023, driven largely by higher‑income retirees who favor edibles and THC‑CBD blends for pain, insomnia and anxiety relief. Health research links heavy cannabis use to a 29 % higher risk of myocardial infarction and a 20 % higher risk of stroke, while THC potency in dried flower has quadrupled since the 1990s.
Entities: Cannabis · JAMA Internal Medicine · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) · United States · University of Utah
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Higher‑income seniors (annual income over $75,000) are the largest consumer group among older adult cannabis users. (3bd80519-ffbe-4a4d-afa1-baa67b5e73d0)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Heavy cannabis use is linked to a 29 % higher risk of myocardial infarction and a 20 % higher risk of stroke. (3bd80519-ffbe-4a4d-afa1-baa67b5e73d0)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The average THC concentration in dried cannabis flowers has quadrupled since the 1990s. (3bd80519-ffbe-4a4d-afa1-baa67b5e73d0)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In 2025, 19.9 million Americans smoked cigarettes daily. (af45fe1d-951d-4730-96a2-76419a00ab24)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In 2025, 21.4 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana on at least 20 of the previous 30 days. (af45fe1d-951d-4730-96a2-76419a00ab24)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Daily or almost daily marijuana use in the U.S. increased by nearly 4 million since 2021. (af45fe1d-951d-4730-96a2-76419a00ab24)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In 2025, 17.2 million Americans consumed alcohol on at least 20 days in the previous month. (af45fe1d-951d-4730-96a2-76419a00ab24)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Among U.S. seniors, cannabis use in the past month rose from 4.8 % in 2021 to 7 % in 2023. (3bd80519-ffbe-4a4d-afa1-baa67b5e73d0)