Day by day and near-daily marijuana use is now extra frequent than related ranges of ingesting within the U.S., in line with 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 stage of marijuana use overtook high-frequency ingesting, mentioned the research’s writer, Jonathan Caulkins, a hashish coverage researcher at Carnegie Mellon College.
“A very good 40 p.c of present hashish customers are utilizing it each day or close to each day, a sample that’s extra related to tobacco use than typical alcohol use,” Caulkins mentioned.
The analysis, primarily based on information from the Nationwide Survey on Drug Use and Well being, was revealed Wednesday within the journal Dependancy. The survey is a extremely regarded supply of estimates of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in the USA.
In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million individuals used marijuana each day or near-daily in comparison with 14.7 million each day or near-daily drinkers, in line with the research. From 1992 to 2022, the per capita price of reporting each day or near-daily marijuana use elevated 15-fold.
The development displays adjustments in public coverage. Most states now permit medical or leisure marijuana, although it stays unlawful on the federal stage. 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 exhibits that high-frequency customers usually tend to turn out 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 research.
The variety of each day customers means that extra individuals are in danger for growing problematic hashish use or habit, Gorelick mentioned.
“Excessive frequency use additionally will increase the danger of growing cannabis-associated psychosis,” a extreme situation the place an individual loses contact with actuality, he mentioned.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.