In 1969, a Gallup poll found that 4 percent of Americans had tried cannabis. By 2023 that number had climbed to 50 percent. More Americans have now tried cannabis than have not. That shift, from a fringe activity to a majority experience, happened within a single lifetime and represents one of the most significant cultural and legal transformations in recent American history.
But the headline numbers only tell part of the story. Who is actually using cannabis, how often, why, and how those patterns have changed tells you something important about where the country actually stands with this plant in 2026.
Quick Answer: How Many Americans Use Cannabis?
Approximately 52 million Americans reported using cannabis in the past year according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data. Roughly 17.9 percent of Americans 12 and older report past-year use. Daily or near-daily use has surpassed daily alcohol use for the first time in recent survey data, with approximately 17.7 million Americans reporting daily or near-daily cannabis use compared to 14.7 million daily alcohol drinkers. These numbers continue to climb as legal access expands.
Current Use Rates by Demographic
By Age Group
Young adults aged 18 to 25 have the highest current use rate, with approximately 35 percent reporting past-year use. Adults aged 26 to 34 follow closely. The fastest-growing age group for new cannabis use is adults 55 and older, where use rates have more than doubled in the past decade. This older adult growth reflects both the expanding legal access and the increasing acceptance of cannabis for pain, sleep, and wellness applications among people who never used it when it was illegal.
Adolescent use, those 12 to 17, has not increased significantly following legalization despite concerns that it would. Multiple studies have found that legalization in adult-use states has not been associated with increased teenage cannabis use rates, and some studies suggest slight decreases in adolescent use following legalization, possibly because the illegal market was previously more accessible to teens than licensed retail with age verification.
By Gender
Men report higher cannabis use rates than women across all age groups, though the gap has narrowed considerably. Approximately 21 percent of adult men report past-year cannabis use versus approximately 15 percent of adult women. Women are more likely than men to report using cannabis specifically for medical or wellness purposes including anxiety, sleep, and pain management.
By State and Legal Status
Adults in recreational cannabis states report higher use rates than adults in medical-only or non-legal states, though the gap is smaller than you might expect. Legal access normalizes use and removes practical barriers but many people in non-legal states already used cannabis before legalization discussions reached their state. Past-year adult use in legal recreational states runs approximately 20 to 25 percent versus approximately 10 to 15 percent in non-legal states.
Daily Use: The Most Significant Trend
The finding that daily cannabis use has surpassed daily alcohol use is one of the most significant data points in recent drug use research. The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported approximately 17.7 million daily or near-daily cannabis users. For context, the country reached this level of daily use from approximately 9 million daily users in 2013, essentially doubling in a decade.
Daily users skew older than casual users, are more likely to use for medical or wellness purposes, and are more likely to use cannabis as a substitute for alcohol or other substances rather than as an additional intoxicant. This pattern of substitution is one of the more consequential public health aspects of expanded cannabis access.
Why People Use Cannabis
Survey data consistently shows that relaxation and stress relief are the most commonly cited reasons for cannabis use across all demographics, reported by approximately 60 to 70 percent of users in most surveys. Sleep is the second most commonly cited reason, followed by pain relief, anxiety management, recreation and socializing, and creativity or focus.
Medical and wellness motivations have increased significantly over time. A decade ago recreational use dominated the stated motivations. Today many regular cannabis users identify primarily as wellness users rather than recreational users, reflecting both the changing demographics of the user population and the expanding range of products designed for specific functional purposes.
Cannabis vs. Alcohol: The Substitution Pattern
Multiple large-scale surveys have found that a significant percentage of cannabis users, ranging from 30 to 50 percent depending on the survey, report reducing their alcohol consumption after beginning regular cannabis use. This substitution effect is more pronounced among daily cannabis users and among users who cite health and wellness motivations. Public health researchers are actively studying the implications of population-level substitution of cannabis for alcohol, which has a much more clearly established harm profile than cannabis.
The Medical Cannabis Patient Population
Approximately 3.6 million Americans are registered medical cannabis patients in states with formal medical programs. This number understates actual medical use because it only counts people who have formally registered, not those using recreational cannabis for medical purposes in legal states or those using cannabis medically in non-legal states.
The conditions most commonly cited in medical cannabis patient registrations are chronic pain, followed by anxiety, PTSD, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. The patient population skews significantly older than the recreational user population, with a meaningful percentage of medical patients being 50 and older.
Cannabis Market Size and Economic Impact
The legal cannabis market in the United States generated approximately $27 billion in retail sales in 2025 according to industry estimates. This makes it one of the largest consumer goods markets in the country. The market employs approximately 440,000 full-time equivalent workers across cultivation, processing, retail, and ancillary services. Cannabis tax revenue to states exceeded $3 billion annually as of recent reporting periods.
These economic figures represent only legal sales. Estimates of the remaining unlicensed market suggest that it still accounts for a significant share of total consumption, particularly in high-tax states. Total cannabis consumption including legal and unlicensed channels is estimated at $50 billion or more annually.
Cannabis and Public Opinion
Public support for cannabis legalization reached historic highs in recent Gallup and Pew surveys. Approximately 70 percent of Americans support full legalization of recreational cannabis for adults, up from 12 percent in 1969. Support crosses partisan and demographic lines to a degree unusual in contemporary American public opinion, with majority support among Republicans, Democrats, and independents, among most age groups over 30, and across most regions of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Americans use cannabis daily?
Approximately 17.7 million Americans report daily or near-daily cannabis use according to recent survey data. This number has exceeded daily alcohol use for the first time in recorded survey history.
Has cannabis use increased among teenagers since legalization?
No. Multiple studies have found that legalization in recreational states has not increased adolescent cannabis use rates. Some studies show slight decreases, possibly because legal age verification is more consistent than illegal market access controls.
What percentage of Americans support cannabis legalization?
Approximately 70 percent of Americans support full recreational cannabis legalization for adults according to recent Gallup and Pew surveys, a historic high that crosses partisan lines.
How big is the legal cannabis market in the United States?
Approximately $27 billion in legal retail sales in 2025. Total consumption including unlicensed channels is estimated at $50 billion or more annually.
Author: Paul Jernigan covers cannabis law, policy, and data for Ganjly.
Related: Read Ganjly’s guides to cannabis laws by state and cannabis vs alcohol research.
