Daily weed use beats booze for the first time
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Daily marijuana use has outpaced daily alcohol consumption in the U.S. for the first time, according to a recent study.
Why it matters: Shifting consumption patterns reflect changes in attitudes toward marijuana as states embrace legalization and the Biden administration moves to reclassify it as a less dangerous substance under federal law.
By the numbers: Daily or near-daily marijuana use grew nationally by 269% from 2008 to 2022, according to an analysis conducted by Jonathan Caulkins, a Carnegie Mellon University professor.
- Meanwhile, the prevalence of daily or near-daily alcohol use fell by 7% in that same period.
- Last year, only 62% of adults under 35 said they drink, down from 72% two decades ago, according to Gallup data, with young adults increasingly viewing alcohol consumption as unhealthy.
Zoom in: Seattle-area bars have recognized the nonalcoholic trend and are increasingly offering a wide range of nonalcoholic cocktails and beverages.
- Sales of nonalcoholic beer in Seattle during the first four weeks of January skyrocketed to $1.25 million in 2024 from $304,000 in 2020.
- Seattle-based Fremont Brewing and Figurehead Brewing have added nonalcoholic options to their menus.
Plus: Cannabis use is up among older Washingtonians, a trend that is likely to continue as seniors seek alternatives to prescription drugs.
Yes, but: More people still drink alcohol than consume marijuana, but high-frequency drinking is less common than high-frequency cannabis use, according to the report.
- 74% of Americans now live in states where medical or recreational use of marijuana is legal, per Pew Research.