Alcohol still most consumed overall

By Guy Page

For the first time on record, more Americans use marijuana every day or nearly every day than use cigarettes or alcohol at the same frequency, according to newly released federal survey data.

The study credits state legalization of marijuana production and sales for increased normalization and use of marijuana. Vermont became the first state to legalize retail sales of marijuana through legislative action on January 22, 2018, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2018. Retail sales officially began in October 2022.

The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released this week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), estimates that 21.4 million Americans used marijuana daily or almost daily during the past year. That compares with 19.9 million people who smoked cigarettes daily and 17.2 million who drank alcohol daily or nearly every day.

The findings, made public by the Drug Report of Safe Approaches to Marijuana, mark a significant shift in American substance use patterns. While alcohol remains the nation’s most commonly consumed intoxicant overall, marijuana has become the most frequently used addictive substance on a daily basis.

The survey shows daily and near-daily marijuana use has increased dramatically over the past two decades. In the early 2000s, roughly 5 million Americans reported using marijuana daily or almost daily. By 2025, that figure had more than quadrupled.

Over the same period, daily cigarette smoking continued its long decline, reflecting decades of public health campaigns, higher tobacco taxes, smoking restrictions and growing awareness of smoking-related health risks.

Researchers say the trend reflects sweeping changes in marijuana policy and public attitudes. Since the first states legalized recreational cannabis in 2012, dozens of states have approved medical or adult-use marijuana, while cannabis products have become increasingly available through licensed retail stores. At the same time, today’s marijuana products are often significantly more potent than those available a generation ago.

The report characterizes the milestone as evidence of the normalization and commercialization of marijuana in the United States, with millions of Americans now incorporating cannabis into their daily routines.

Public health experts remain divided over what the trend means. Supporters of legalization argue marijuana presents fewer health risks than tobacco and alcohol and offers therapeutic benefits for some patients. Others warn that regular use of high-potency cannabis has been linked to increased risks of cannabis use disorder, impaired cognition, mental health problems in susceptible individuals, and impaired driving.

Vermont has seen an increase in driving while drug impaired, including driving under the influence of marijuana. Police officers have received enhanced training in identifying marijuana impairment in drivers.

The annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health is one of the federal government’s primary tools for tracking substance use and mental health trends. It surveys tens of thousands of Americans each year and is widely used by policymakers, researchers and public health officials to monitor changing patterns of drug and alcohol use across the country.