U.S. marijuana use hits record high as alcohol and cigarette consumption decline

Recent data indicate shifting consumption habits in the United States, characterized by record-high marijuana use alongside significant declines in alcohol and cigarette consumption.

According to Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits poll, 17% of U.S. adults report smoking marijuana, matching a record high, while an additional 15% consume marijuana edibles. Usage is most prevalent among younger adults aged 18 to 49. Conversely, cigarette smoking has dropped to 11%, and alcohol consumption has reached a record low, with 54% of adults reporting they drink.

Complementary federal data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that marijuana-related treatment admissions have declined. The share of substance use treatment admissions where marijuana is the primary substance has fallen by approximately 20% since 2020. While marijuana use has become more common and legalization has expanded in several states, SAMHSA notes that treatment admission figures do not directly measure the overall prevalence of marijuana use or use disorders in the general population.