US daily cannabis use overtakes alcohol

Federal data from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released by SAMHSA, show that about 21.4 million Americans aged 12 or older use cannabis daily or near‑daily, surpassing the roughly 17 million who drink alcohol at the same frequency and the 19.9 million daily cigarette smokers. The rise represents an increase of roughly 4 million daily cannabis users since 2021, while daily alcohol and cigarette use have continued to decline. Daily or near‑daily use is defined as consumption on at least 20 days in the past month. The trend first emerged in 2022 when daily cannabis users outnumbered daily drinkers, and recent surveys note that among younger workers THC use now exceeds alcohol use after work. The shift reflects growing adult cannabis consumption alongside a sharp decline in teen use – past‑year use among 12‑17‑year‑olds fell from 14 % in 2011 to 8.7 %, and past‑month use dropped about 40 %. Researchers caution that while cannabis may replace more harmful substances, risks such as impaired driving and cannabis‑use disorder remain, and anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain continue to be the top reasons adults use cannabis.

Follow‑up data released in 2026 confirm the same 21.4 million daily users and note a modest rise in daily alcohol consumers to 17.2 million. The daily cannabis cohort grew about 22 % between 2021 and 2025, driven largely by an increase of roughly 2.8 million users in the first year of that period. The highest concentration remains among adults 18‑25, with about 8.4 million daily users, while use is also expanding in older age groups. Legal access has broadened, with 41 states permitting medical marijuana and 24 allowing recreational sales. Public‑health experts highlight the parallel rise in THC potency as an additional concern.