The total percentage of U.S. adults who say they use cannabis dropped over the past year, primarily due to a decline in casual / occasional cannabis users.
However, that overall decline coincides with an increase in the number of daily users.
According to ongoing CivicScience polling, the overall percentage of adults (21+) who said they use cannabis has declined from 36% to 35% from 2023 to 2024 (YTD). But the number of daily cannabis users ticked up from 16% to 17% — now nearly double the number of daily users reported in 2020 (9%).
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When it comes to methods of using cannabis, we’re in the midst of a major shift. Back in 2020, nearly half of all self-proclaimed cannabis users said that ‘traditional smoking methods’ were their most common method of using cannabis. Four years later, both vaporizers and edibles are nearing the popularity of smoking.
Digging deeper, CivicScience data suggest that occasional cannabis users are responsible for the rise of vaporizers and edibles in recent years. Over half (51%) of daily users say smoking is their preferred method. Meanwhile, pluralities of weekly (33%) and monthly (34%) users say vaporizers are their go-to. Those who use cannabis only a few times a year are the most likely to turn to edibles (42%).
What is the profile of the average cannabis user in the U.S.? This cohort leans younger, more male, and more urban than non-users.
Interestingly, more than three-quarters of those who’ve used ChatGPT say they are at least occasional cannabis users, with 29% of ChatGPT users partaking in cannabis daily. Even among those who intend to use ChatGPT, more than half consider themselves occasional cannabis users. Usage rates among those who are not interested or unaware of ChatGPT are lower than those of the general population.
ChatGPT users tend to skew younger. Even taken among adults under 35 only, ChatGPT and cannabis usage rates were correlated in the same manner.
While the overall rate of cannabis use among the Gen Pop slid for the first time since 2020 this year, that seems to have been due to a decline in occasional users. The percentage of daily users, on the other hand, has increased for four years running, pointing to a healthy market for cannabis and related products.
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