Cannabis Use on the Rise as Cigarette Smoking Continues to Decline, Finds Study

Researchers from the University of Kentucky and the State University of New York analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, looking at past 30-day use among adults between 2015 and 2023. They separated the results into three timeframes: 2015–2019, 2020, and 2021–2023. The study found cannabis-only use grew from 3.9% in the first period to 6.5%, reached 7.1% in 2020, and then jumped to 10.6% by 2023. Cigarette-only use moved in the opposite direction, dropping from 15% in 2015–2019 to 12%, falling again to 10.3% in 2020, and then to 8.8% by 2023. Rates of combined cigarette and cannabis use remained relatively stable throughout the study period.

The findings also revealed demographic differences. Cigarette smoking was most common among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults, such as those with lower income, less education, or no insurance. Cannabis-only use, by contrast, was more prevalent among individuals who were college-educated, higher income, and privately insured.

According to the study’s authors, “Cannabis-only use and co-use trends pose public health risks akin to cigarettes, necessitating targeted prevention campaigns.” They stress the need for public health education, early detection, and new treatment strategies to address what they caution could become the next major public health crisis.