Daily Marijuana Use Greater than Daily Alcohol Use in US
2024-06-02
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1For the first time, the number of Americans who use marijuana almost every day has grown greater than the number who drink alcohol almost every day.
2This change, some 40 years in the making, comes as marijuana use has become more common and legal in nearly half of U.S. states.
3In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near-daily.
4In comparison, 14.7 million people reported being daily or near-daily drinkers, an examination of national survey data shows.
5In 1992, when daily pot use hit a low point, less than 1 million people said they used marijuana nearly every day.
6Alcohol is still more widely used.
7But 2022 was the first time this high level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily drinking, said the study's writer, Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University.
8"A good 40 percent of current cannabis users are using it daily or near daily, a pattern that is more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use," Caulkins said.
9The research, based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, appeared recently in the publication Addiction.
10The survey is a highly regarded source of self-reported estimates of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in the United States.
11From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of those reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased by 15 times.
12Caulkins suggested in the study that people may be more willing to report marijuana use as public acceptance grows.
13Most states now permit medical or recreational marijuana, though it remains illegal at the federal level.
14In November, Florida voters will decide on a constitutional change permitting recreational cannabis.
15And the federal government is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
16Research shows that high-frequency users are more likely to become addicted to marijuana, said Dr. David A. Gorelick of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
17Gorelick was not involved in the study.
18The number of daily users suggests that more people are at risk for developing problematic cannabis use or addiction, Gorelick said.
19"High frequency use also increases the risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis," a severe condition where a person loses touch with reality, he said.
20I'm John Russell.
1For the first time, the number of Americans who use marijuana almost every day has grown greater than the number who drink alcohol almost every day. 2This change, some 40 years in the making, comes as marijuana use has become more common and legal in nearly half of U.S. states. 3In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near-daily. In comparison, 14.7 million people reported being daily or near-daily drinkers, an examination of national survey data shows. 4In 1992, when daily pot use hit a low point, less than 1 million people said they used marijuana nearly every day. 5Alcohol is still more widely used. But 2022 was the first time this high level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily drinking, said the study's writer, Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University. 6"A good 40 percent of current cannabis users are using it daily or near daily, a pattern that is more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use," Caulkins said. 7The research, based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, appeared recently in the publication Addiction. 8The survey is a highly regarded source of self-reported estimates of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in the United States. 9From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of those reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased by 15 times. Caulkins suggested in the study that people may be more willing to report marijuana use as public acceptance grows. 10Most states now permit medical or recreational marijuana, though it remains illegal at the federal level. In November, Florida voters will decide on a constitutional change permitting recreational cannabis. 11And the federal government is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. 12Research shows that high-frequency users are more likely to become addicted to marijuana, said Dr. David A. Gorelick of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Gorelick was not involved in the study. 13The number of daily users suggests that more people are at risk for developing problematic cannabis use or addiction, Gorelick said. 14"High frequency use also increases the risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis," a severe condition where a person loses touch with reality, he said. 15I'm John Russell. 16Carla K. Johnson reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 17__________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19marijuana - n. the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant that are smoked as a drug 20cannabis - n. a drug (such as marijuana) that comes from the hemp plant 21pattern - n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done 22recreational - adj. done for pleasure or enjoyment 23frequency - n. the number of times something happens