Study: 37% of California Adults Have Used Marijuana Recently, Many Daily and for Mental Health Benefits

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, the study draws on data from the Impact 64 study and includes responses from over 15,000 California adults. Among them, 37% said they had used cannabis in the past three months, with 38% of those identifying as very frequent users—defined as using multiple times per day. Nearly 80% of users reported smoking flower, followed by vaping (66%) and using edibles (61%). Over three-fourths (77%) say they obtain their marijuana from dispensaries or delivery services they believed to be licensed.

While 75% reported using cannabis for entertainment, large majorities also cited benefits to their mental (82%), emotional (81%), and physical (62%) health. About 93% said they use cannabis at home, and 45% said they use it during creative activities. Over one-third also reported combining cannabis with alcohol.

The study also found that although most users feel comfortable discussing marijuana with their doctors, only two-thirds said their physician was aware of their recreational use. The top sources of information about cannabis were the internet and friends or family, not healthcare professionals—underscoring what researchers call an important gap in communication.