Study indicates that cannabis use has surpassed cigarette use among Americans

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 fell from 10.8% to 8.8% during the same period.

According to the Marijuana Moment portal, the numbers indicate a significant transition in behavior regarding substances still subjected to strong stigma.

A New Consumption Landscape

In the published analysis, the authors suggest that the increase in exclusive cannabis use, 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 risk perceptions, 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 the cigarette data excluded nicotine vaporizer users.

For Brazil, where the debate over medicinal and recreational cannabis 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 the publication from Marijuana Moment, the authors warn that while the decline in cigarette smoking is good news, the increase in cannabis use “alone” and in co-use with other substances may pose risks to public health, including the possibility of cannabis “turning” into a public health crisis if there is no adequate governmental and educational response.
 

With information from Marijuana Moment.