Marijuana Statistics
About 61.6 million people aged 12 and older in the United States used marijuana in the past year in 2025. Explore marijuana use and addiction statistics, demographics, potency, and health trends, with dates and populations clearly identified.[17]
Battling addiction & ready for help?
Marijuana Use and Addiction Statistics in the United States
About 61.6 million people in the United States, or 21.2% of those aged 12 and older, used marijuana in the past year in 2025.[17] The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published by SAMHSA in 2026, also estimated that 19.3 million people aged 12 and older had past-year cannabis use disorder.[17]
These marijuana statistics measure different things. Using cannabis at least once, using it frequently, and having marijuana addiction are not interchangeable. The sections below distinguish those measures, using 2025 national estimates alongside clearly dated research on demographics, daily use, potency, and health effects.
- 61.6 million people aged 12 and older used marijuana in the past year in 2025.[17] That was 21.2% of this U.S. population.[17]
- 19.3 million people aged 12 and older had past-year cannabis use disorder in 2025.[17] That was 6.7% of this population, not 6.7% of marijuana users.[17]
- Young adults had the highest marijuana use rate. Among people aged 18 to 25, 33.7% reported past-year use in 2025.[17]
- Daily or near-daily cannabis users outnumbered similarly frequent drinkers in 2022. A historical survey analysis reported 17.7 million cannabis users versus 14.7 million alcohol users at that frequency.[1]
- Reported edible cannabis exposures among children younger than 6 rose 1,375% from 2017 to 2021.[5] Annual reports increased from 207 to 3,054.[5]
How Many Americans Use Marijuana
About one in five people aged 12 and older reported using marijuana in the past year in 2025.[17] SAMHSA’s estimate of 61.6 million includes different ways of consuming cannabis, not just smoking.[17] The survey represents the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 and older.[17]
Past-Year Use and Current Marijuana Use
Past-year use means use during the preceding 12 months. Current marijuana use usually means use in the past 30 days. Neither measure tells you, by itself, how often someone used cannabis or whether it caused problems.[6][17]
For example, someone who used an edible once during the year and someone who smoked most evenings can both count as past-year users. Frequency and cannabis use disorder statistics help explain patterns that the overall use figure cannot show.
How Many People Smoke Weed
About 46.1 million people aged 12 and older smoked marijuana in the past year in 2025.[17] That was 74.8% of past-year marijuana users, not 74.8% of Americans.[17] Smoking was the most common method, followed by eating or drinking cannabis products.[17]
| Method | People | Share of past-year users |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking | 46.1 million[17] | 74.8%[17] |
| Eating or drinking | 30.3 million[17] | 49.2%[17] |
| Vaping | 24.2 million[17] | 39.2%[17] |
| Dabbing waxes, shatter, or concentrates | 8.9 million[17] | 14.5%[17] |
People could report more than one method, so these percentages should not be added together. Someone who both smoked and used edibles appears in both categories.[17]
Daily and Near-Daily Marijuana Use
In a study of historical national survey data, 17.7 million people reported daily or near-daily cannabis use in 2022.[1] Among people who had used cannabis in the past month, 42.3% reported using it that frequently.[1]
That is an important pattern, but daily use is not itself a diagnosis. Difficulty controlling use and its effects on health, relationships, or responsibilities also matter. Less frequent use is not automatically harmless either, since cannabis can cause impairment and other immediate effects.[15]
Marijuana Use by Age
Young adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest past-year marijuana use rate in 2025, at 33.7%.[17] Adults aged 26 and older accounted for the largest number of people who used marijuana, at 47.2 million, because that age group includes a much larger population.[17]
| Age group | Past-year users | Share of age group |
|---|---|---|
| 12 to 17[17] | 2.2 million[17] | 8.7%[17] |
| 18 to 25[17] | 12.2 million[17] | 33.7%[17] |
| 26 or older[17] | 47.2 million[17] | 20.6%[17] |
Marijuana Use Trends Differ by Age
Between 2021 and 2025, past-year use increased among adults aged 26 and older, from 17.3% to 20.6%.[17] Over the same period, it decreased among adolescents aged 12 to 17, from 10.9% to 8.7%, and among young adults aged 18 to 25, from 36.3% to 33.7%.[17]
The national increase over that period therefore does not describe every age group. Young adults continued to have the highest use rate even as their rate declined, while adults aged 26 and older drove the overall increase.[17]
Marijuana Use by Sex
Men were among the adult groups with the highest current marijuana use in a national survey analysis covering 2022. The same study found that current use among female adults increased from 11.21% in 2021 to 13.00% in 2022.[6]
| Survey year | Share reporting past-month use |
|---|---|
| 2021[6] | 11.21%[6] |
| 2022[6] | 13.00%[6] |
Men and Women Report Different Marijuana Use Patterns
A separate 2016 anonymous online survey of 2,374 recreational and medical cannabis users found that men reported using cannabis more frequently and in larger quantities than women.[7] This was a survey of cannabis users, not a nationally representative estimate for all men and women.[7]
Participants also reported differences in withdrawal experiences. Men more often reported insomnia and vivid dreams, while women more often reported nausea and anxiety. These findings can inform questions about an individual’s experience, but they do not predict what any particular person will feel.[7]
Marijuana Use and the Telescoping Effect
The telescoping effect describes a shorter timeline from regular use to treatment in some research. A 2004 study of 271 substance-dependent treatment patients found that women with cannabis dependence had fewer years of regular cannabis use before entering treatment than men.[8]
That finding concerns treatment entry in a selected patient sample. It does not establish that women always develop marijuana addiction faster, and the study found no sex difference in the age at which regular use began.[8]
Marijuana Use by Race and Ethnicity
In SAMHSA’s 2022 estimates, multiracial people had the highest reported past-year marijuana use percentage among the groups reported in these estimates, at 31.1%.[9] The estimate for American Indian or Alaska Native people was 27.3%, while Asian people had the lowest listed estimate, at 11.2%.[9]
| Race or ethnicity | Share reporting past-year use |
|---|---|
| Multiracial | 31.1%[9] |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 27.3%[9] |
| Black | 23.5%[9] |
| White | 22.9%[9] |
| Hispanic | 20.3%[9] |
| Asian | 11.2%[9] |
These cannabis demographics describe use, not addiction rates. Because the estimates are not age-adjusted, differences can partly reflect the younger or older age composition of each population. They should not be interpreted as evidence of inherent biological differences in marijuana use.[9]
Recent Marijuana Use Among Hispanic Adults
A separate analysis found that past-month marijuana use among Hispanic adults increased from 10.42% in 2021 to 13.50% in 2022.[6] That study also found consistently higher odds of current use among adults with lower annual family incomes.[6]
Those findings use a different measure and population from the national estimates table. Past-month use among adults should not be substituted for past-year use among everyone aged 12 and older.
Marijuana Use and Legalization
Research has found associations between recreational marijuana legalization and increased use in some young adult groups. Long-term national changes have also paralleled shifts in cannabis policy, but parallel trends do not prove that legalization alone caused the changes.[1][10]
Young Adult Marijuana Use Before and After Legalization
A study using 2008–2019 national survey data examined college-eligible young adults aged 18 to 23, including people who were not enrolled in college. It compared repeated survey samples before and after state recreational legalization rather than following the same individuals over time.[10]
Past-month cannabis use increased from 21% before legalization to 25% afterward.[10] A survey-based proxy for past-year cannabis use disorder increased from 11% to 13%.[10] The study adjusted for broader time trends and detected increases among young adults who were not in college and those aged 21 to 23.[10]
| Measure | Before legalization | After legalization |
|---|---|---|
| Past-month cannabis use | 21%[10] | 25%[10] |
| Past-year cannabis use disorder proxy | 11%[10] | 13%[10] |
A proxy is an approximation based on survey responses, not a confirmed clinical diagnosis. The findings identify groups that may benefit from prevention and support without establishing the same effect for every age group.[10]
Marijuana Use Over Time
Past-year marijuana use was higher in 2025 than in 2021, but it did not increase every year. SAMHSA’s comparable series shows an increase from 19.0% to 21.2% among people aged 12 and older across that period.[17]
| Survey year | Share reporting past-year use |
|---|---|
| 2021[17] | 19.0%[17] |
| 2022[17] | 22.0%[17] |
| 2023[17] | 21.8%[17] |
| 2024[17] | 22.3%[17] |
| 2025[17] | 21.2%[17] |
Long-Term Research on Frequent Marijuana Use
Across those different survey eras, Caulkins’ 2024 historical analysis reported a roughly 15-fold increase in the per-capita rate of daily or near-daily cannabis use between 1992 and 2022.[1] It also reported a 120% increase in the per-capita rate of past-year use between 2008 and 2022.[1]
The study distinguished population-adjusted measures from absolute totals. Reported cannabis-use days per capita increased 218% between 2008 and 2022.[1] Separately, the annualized total number of reported use days increased from 2.3 billion to 8.1 billion.[1] These are days of use, not numbers of individual users.[1]
Cannabis and Alcohol Daily Use
In 2022, the historical survey analysis recorded more daily or near-daily cannabis users than daily or near-daily drinkers for the first time. In 1992, similarly frequent drinkers had outnumbered cannabis users by about ten to one.[1]
| Survey year | Cannabis users | Alcohol users |
|---|---|---|
| 1992[1] | 0.9 million[1] | 8.9 million[1] |
| 2022[1] | 17.7 million[1] | 14.7 million[1] |
This comparison is about frequency, not overall popularity. Far more people drank alcohol overall in 2022. Among past-month consumers, the median reported frequency was 15 to 16 days for cannabis and 4 to 5 days for alcohol.[1]
Marijuana Addiction Statistics
For readers asking whether marijuana is addictive, the answer is yes. SAMHSA estimated that 19.3 million people aged 12 and older, or 6.7%, had past-year marijuana or cannabis use disorder in 2025.[17]
Cannabis use disorder means being unable to stop using cannabis even though it is causing health and social problems.[18] It includes mild, moderate, and severe cases, so not every person counted in a CUD estimate has severe addiction.[2]
How Many People Have Cannabis Use Disorder
Young adults had the highest population rate of past-year cannabis use disorder in 2025. The rate was 14.1% among people aged 18 to 25, compared with 5.7% among adults aged 26 and older and 4.4% among adolescents aged 12 to 17.[17] These percentages count everyone in each age group, not only people who used marijuana.[17]
A separate analysis of 2022 data helps explain severity among adults. It found that 7.0% of all U.S. adults aged 18 and older had CUD.[2] Among adults who had used cannabis in the past year, 30.3% had CUD, with mild cases the largest severity category.[2]
| Measure | Population used as denominator | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Any cannabis use disorder | Adult past-year cannabis users | 30.3%[2] |
| Mild cannabis use disorder | Adult past-year cannabis users | 16.9%[2] |
| Moderate cannabis use disorder | Adult past-year cannabis users | 8.4%[2] |
| Severe cannabis use disorder | Adult past-year cannabis users | 5.0%[2] |
| Received any substance use treatment | Adults with cannabis use disorder | 16.5%[2] |
The 16.5% treatment figure means about one in six adults with CUD received some form of substance use treatment in 2022.[2] It does not show how many received treatment specifically for cannabis. In the same study, 52.4% of adults with CUD also had another substance use disorder.[2] Treatment receipt is not a measure of treatment success or recovery.[2]
Marijuana Addiction Risk and Starting Young
CDC reports that the risk of developing cannabis use disorder is greater for people who begin using before age 18. Children and teenagers are also especially susceptible to adverse effects while their brains are developing.[12]
Earlier adult research illustrates why population rates and individual risk should be distinguished. A study using an older diagnostic framework found that past-year marijuana use disorder increased from 1.5% of adults in 2001–2002 to 2.9% in 2012–2013.[11] Among marijuana users, the estimates were 35.6% in 2001–2002 and 30.6% in 2012–2013.[11] More people using marijuana contributed to more people having a disorder, even though the proportion among users did not rise.[11]
That historical study used different surveys and DSM-IV diagnoses, so its estimates should not be joined directly to the newer NSDUH figures as one continuous trend.[11][17]
Marijuana Potency in Seized Cannabis
Testing of DEA-seized cannabis plant material found that average THC concentration rose from about 4% in 1995 to about 12% in 2014.[3] This documents a substantial change in those samples, not the strength of every product sold today.[3]
THC Concentration in Seized Cannabis
THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. Potency describes its concentration in a product.[3][15]
| Sample year | Average THC concentration |
|---|---|
| 1995[3] | About 4%[3] |
| 2014[3] | About 12%[3] |
A later analysis covering 2013–2022 reported that most of the high-THC samples it described contained more than 10% THC, with broadly similar cannabinoid profiles across geographic regions.[4] That finding does not establish a single national average for all cannabis products in 2022 or today.[4]
Why Marijuana Potency Matters
Higher THC concentration means more THC in the same amount of material. Concentration is different from the dose someone consumes. A percentage measured in cannabis plant material does not tell you how many milligrams of THC are in an edible serving.
NIH reports that anxiety, fear, panic, and hallucinations are more common when someone takes a large amount, particularly with high-THC products or limited experience using cannabis. CDC also notes that products delivering high THC concentrations can increase intoxicating effects and the risk of excess consumption.[15][13]
Separately, CDC links long-term or frequent cannabis use with an increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users. That health finding should not be confused with what laboratory potency testing alone can establish.[12]
Marijuana Emergencies, Edibles, and Driving
Cannabis can lead to emergency treatment, including when young children accidentally eat THC-containing products. Poison-center reports and emergency department surveillance help show these harms, although neither captures every cannabis-related event in the country.[5][13][15]
Edible Cannabis Exposures in Young Children
Reported edible cannabis exposures among children younger than 6 increased from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021, a 1,375% increase.[5] The National Poison Data System study recorded 7,043 exposures across the five-year period.[5]
| Year or comparison | Reported cases or change |
|---|---|
| 2017[5] | 207 cases[5] |
| 2021[5] | 3,054 cases[5] |
| Change from 2017 to 2021[5] | Increase of 1,375%[5] |
Across all reported cases in that study, 22.7% of children were admitted to a hospital.[5] Among cases followed to a known outcome, 70% involved central nervous system depression, meaning slowed brain and nervous system activity that can cause marked sleepiness or difficulty staying alert.[5] The 70% figure does not apply to every reported exposure.[5]
A separate poison-center study covering 2013–2021 found a tenfold increase in reported unintentional marijuana exposure cases.[14] Of its 15,301 unintentional cases, 70% involved children younger than 6 and 51% involved edibles.[14]
Safe storage is a practical prevention step. CDC recommends keeping cannabis products securely out of children’s reach. The FDA storage advice cited by CDC includes using a locked box. Edible products can resemble ordinary foods or candy, making packaging and secure storage especially important.[13]
Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits
A CDC analysis of 2019–2022 data from a weekly average of 1,671 participating emergency departments found that cannabis-involved visits among people younger than 25 remained above 2019 prepandemic levels through 2022.[13] More than 90% of these visits involved people aged 15 to 24, while large increases also occurred among children aged 10 and younger.[13]
In this report, cannabis-involved meant cannabis was documented in the chief complaint or a discharge diagnosis. The records counted visits, not unique patients, and the participating emergency departments were not nationally representative. Reported visit rates used every 10,000 emergency department visits as the denominator, not every 10,000 people.[13]
Marijuana and Impaired Driving
Cannabis can affect thinking, coordination, body movement, and reaction time, all of which matter for driving.[12][15] Plan transportation that does not require you to drive after using cannabis. Our guide to the effects of weed explains more about changes in thinking and physical functioning.
Teen Marijuana Use and Risk Perception
Teen marijuana use did not show the same pattern as adult use in the school-based 2024 Monitoring the Future survey. Past-year cannabis use declined among 12th graders, from 29.0% in 2023 to 25.8% in 2024, and remained stable among eighth and 10th graders.[16]
Marijuana Use Among Students in 2024
The survey collected responses from 24,257 students at 272 public and private schools.[16] Its grade-based estimates describe enrolled students, not all adolescents or everyone in a particular age range.[16]
| School grade | Past-year cannabis use | Past-year cannabis vaping |
|---|---|---|
| Eighth grade | 7.2%[16] | 5.6%[16] |
| 10th grade[16] | 15.9%[16] | 11.6%[16] |
| 12th grade[16] | 25.8%[16] | 17.6%[16] |
Youth Perceptions of Marijuana Risk
CDC’s 2023 emergency department report noted that young people’s perceptions of cannabis risk had declined. That observation is separate from the 2024 student use figures above.[13]
Lower teen use is encouraging, and accurate information still matters. A useful family conversation can begin with what a teenager has heard about edibles or vaping, then address concrete effects on memory, attention, coordination, and reaction time rather than relying on labels or scare tactics.[12]
Getting Help for Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana addiction can be treated. NIH reports that psychosocial treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and contingency management can be effective for cannabis use disorder. There are currently no FDA-approved medicines specifically for cannabis use disorder or medically assisted cannabis withdrawal.[15]
Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches coping and problem-solving skills and helps people identify and manage patterns, thoughts, and external triggers that can lead to cannabis use.[19] A doctor or counselor can help you review your use pattern, what makes cutting back difficult, and your goals, then discuss which treatment approach fits those needs.[15]
Bring specific examples to that conversation. You might say, “I use most evenings, and cravings make it hard to skip a day,” or “I want help changing how I respond to stress.” Ask how treatment would address those situations, what sessions involve, and what care would cost. You do not have to wait for marijuana use to disrupt every part of your life before asking for support.
More on marijuana:
- The full picture of marijuana addiction and how it takes hold
- Whether marijuana is addictive and who is most at risk
- What cannabis does to the mind and body in the effects of weed
- Where to find treatment that fits if use has become a concern
Frequently asked questions
How Many People Use Marijuana in the United States?
About 61.6 million people aged 12 and older, or 21.2% of that U.S. population, used marijuana in the past year in 2025.[17] This includes smoking, vaping, edibles, and other methods, not just smoking.[17] A separate historical analysis estimated 17.7 million daily or near-daily cannabis users in 2022.[1] That is a 2022 estimate, not a 2025 figure.[1]
How Many People Smoke Weed in the United States?
About 46.1 million people aged 12 and older smoked marijuana in the past year in 2025.[17] That was 74.8% of people who used marijuana during the year, not 74.8% of Americans.[17] Some people also used edibles, vapes, or other products, so smoking and other methods overlap.[17]
How Many Americans Are Addicted to Marijuana?
SAMHSA estimated that 19.3 million people aged 12 and older, or 6.7% of that U.S. population, had past-year cannabis use disorder in 2025.[17]
Cannabis use disorder includes mild, moderate, and severe cases, so this is not a count of severe addiction alone. A separate 2022 study found CUD among 30.3% of adult past-year cannabis users.[2] That percentage uses adults who used cannabis as its denominator, not the whole population.[2]
Is Marijuana Use Increasing or Decreasing?
It depends on the age group and period. Among people aged 12 and older, past-year marijuana use increased from 19.0% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025, although it did not rise every year.[17] Over that period, use increased among adults aged 26 and older but decreased among adolescents aged 12 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 25.[17]
What Age Group Uses Marijuana the Most?
Young adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest past-year marijuana use rate in 2025, at 33.7%.[17] The rate was 20.6% among adults aged 26 and older and 8.7% among adolescents aged 12 to 17.[17] Adults aged 26 and older accounted for the largest number of people who used marijuana, at 47.2 million, because that population is much larger.[17]
How Strong Is Marijuana Today Compared With the Past?
Historical testing shows a substantial increase in THC concentration in seized cannabis plant material, from about 4% on average in 1995 to about 12% in 2014.[3]
A later study covering 2013–2022 described THC concentrations above 10% as typical of its high-THC seized samples.[4] These findings do not establish the strength of every current retail product. THC concentration in plant material is also different from the THC dose in an edible serving.
Which Groups Use Marijuana the Most?
Among the broad age groups in the 2025 national report, adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest past-year marijuana use rate.[17]
In the separate 2022 race and ethnicity estimates for people aged 12 and older, multiracial people had the highest listed estimate at 31.1%, followed by American Indian or Alaska Native people at 27.3%.[9] Those estimates were not adjusted for age differences between groups.[9] A 2022 national survey analysis also identified male adults among the groups with the highest current use.[6]
Get Treatment Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, getting help is just a phone call away, or consider trying therapy online with BetterHelp.
Exclusive offer: 20% Off BetterHelp*Following links to the BetterHelp website may earn us a commission that helps us manage and maintain AddictionHelp.com. *Get 20% off your first month of BetterHelp. Offer valid for new BetterHelp users only. Offer cannot be combined with insurance.
- Fact-Checked
- Editor
