Study: 37% of Californians Consumed Cannabis Within Past Three Months 

Thirty-seven percent of Californians reported consuming cannabis within the past three months, with 38% of those consuming cannabis multiple times daily and 30% consuming cannabis three times per week or less, according to a study published Wednesday in the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research journal. The study, which included a survey of 15,208 individuals, found that 30% of respondents formerly consumed cannabis, and 33% were non-consumers. 

A majority of cannabis consumers included in the study reported positive impacts to their mental health (82%), emotional health (81%), and physical health (62%). The most commonly reported negative effects were brain fog and lack of motivation (21% each). 

The most common products consumed by respondents of the study were flower (56%), edibles or capsules (50%) and vaping concentrates (36%); but 91% used multiple cannabis products and just 9% used only one type – primarily flower (4.6%) and edibles (2.8%).  

Most cannabis consumers in California purchased cannabis products at dispensaries (77%), while 35% used delivery services, 32% obtained it from friends and family, and 12% grew their own. Most believed the dispensary they frequent or the delivery service they use is licensed (94%, 91% respectively), with 66% considering it important that their source is licensed. 

Most current cannabis consumers (93%) use cannabis at home, followed by using it at someone else’s home (31%), parties (29%), outdoors (24%), or in their car (22%), with 65% using it alone. Common activities while consuming cannabis include home entertainment (75%), creative activities (45%), and public entertainment (38%).  

Concurrent use of alcohol was reported by 36% of users, cigarettes by 24%, and other drugs by 9%. 

The most common sources of cannabis information among cannabis consumers were the Internet (51%) and friends/family (50%), with just 15% obtaining information from doctors (15%) or therapists (11%). For dosage, the researchers found 48% of current users relied on experience, 29% packaging details, 24% budtender advice, 20% internet, 20% friends or family, 15% doctors, while 15% did not seek dosing information.         

The researchers also found that 78% of cannabis consumers were comfortable discussing cannabis with their primary doctor but just 66% of primary doctors knew about their patients’ recreational cannabis consumption.

The Impact 64 questionnaire was administered from December 2022 to February 2023.