A recent study conducted by the State University of New York (SUNY) and the University of Kentucky shows that exclusive cannabis use among adults in the United States jumped from 7.2% to 10.6% between 2021 and 2023, while exclusive cigarette use dropped from 10.8% to 8.8% in the same period.

According to Marijuana Moment, the numbers point to a significant transition in behavior regarding substances still subject to strong stigma.

A new consumption landscape

In the published analysis, the authors suggest that the increase in cannabis use only, alongside the decline in smoking, may reflect a substitution effect, meaning some people have stopped smoking cigarettes and started using cannabis, in a context of changing perceptions of risk, legislation, and social norms.

It is important to highlight that the study covered different forms of cannabis use, including: flowers, vapes, edibles, and tinctures, while cigarette data excluded nicotine vaporization users.

For Brazil, where the debate on medicinal cannabis and recreational use is still intense, this type of international evidence can serve as an indicator: both for public policies and for society to rethink consumption profiles and health impacts.

Implications for public health and policies

According to Marijuana Moment's publication, the authors warn that, although the decline in cigarette smoking is good news, the increase in cannabis use