Federal Data Shows More Americans Use Marijuana Daily or Almost Daily Than Cigarettes or Alcohol
- In 2025, more Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana daily or almost daily than those who smoked cigarettes or consumed alcohol with similar frequency.
- Approximately 21.4 million people used marijuana on at least 20 of the previous 30 days, surpassing the 19.9 million daily cigarette smokers and 17.2 million frequent alcohol consumers.
- Frequent marijuana use has increased significantly, growing by nearly 4 million since 2021, while daily cigarette smoking has declined.
- The data comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, covering substance use patterns in the U.S. population aged 12 and older.
More Americans now use marijuana daily or almost daily than smoke cigarettes every day or consume alcohol with similar frequency, according to newly released federal data.
An estimated 21.4 million people aged 12 or older used marijuana on at least 20 of the previous 30 days in 2025, according to detailed tables from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
That exceeded the estimated 19.9 million people who smoked cigarettes daily and the 17.2 million who consumed alcohol on at least 20 days during the previous month.
The figures mark a continuation of a long-term increase in frequent marijuana use. The number of people using marijuana daily or almost daily has grown by nearly 4 million since 2021, while daily cigarette smoking has continued to decline.
Federal health officials define daily or almost daily marijuana use as consumption on at least 20 days during the previous month. The category includes all forms of marijuana, including products that are smoked, vaped or consumed in other ways.
The NSDUH is conducted annually and provides nationally representative estimates for the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged 12 or older. The survey covers substance use, substance use disorders, mental health conditions and access to treatment.