Cannabis Use Surges as Americans Turn Away from Alcohol and Cigarettes
A recent survey conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health has revealed that cannabis use is on the rise among Americans, while alcohol and cigarette use are declining. The survey, which was funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), found that past-month cannabis use increased from 13.2% in 2021 to 15.1% in 2025.
In contrast, past-month alcohol use declined from 47.4% to 44.4% over the same period, while cigarette use dropped from 16.0% to 12.4%. Despite cannabis remaining illegal at the federal level, its legal status may be shifting. In April 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, and a subsequent hearing considered extending this reclassification to cannabis more broadly.
According to the survey, cannabis is now the second most used substance in the United States, with nearly 44 million people using it in the past month. While alcohol remains the most used substance in absolute terms, with over 129 million people using it in the past month, cannabis use has outpaced cigarette use among past-month users.
The survey also found that cannabis use disorder rose from 6% to 6.7%, although most people with a cannabis use disorder have a mild rather than severe case. The report notes that adults with moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms are more likely to use cannabis, as are adolescents with a past-year major depressive episode.
Interestingly, cannabis use is declining among young adults and teens, while rising among adults 26 and older. Past-year cannabis use among young adults fell from 36.3% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2025, while teen use fell from 10.9% to 8.7% over the same period. This suggests that cannabis’s overall growth is being driven by adults.
The survey also highlights age patterns in cannabis consumption methods. Smoking remains the most common method, followed by eating/drinking, vaping, and dabbling concentrates. Teens tend to split evenly between smoking and vaping, while young adults lean more towards smoking. Older adults, on the other hand, prefer smoking, followed by edibles or cannabis drinks.
The growing use of cannabis comes as 41 U.S. states have legalized cannabis for medical use, and 24 for adult use. However, widespread legalization does not appear to have affected use among
