Daily Cannabis Use in the US Surpasses Alcohol as Teen Consumption Declines

For the first time in modern US history, daily or near-daily cannabis use has overtaken alcohol as the most common frequent substance habit among Americans. According to the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21.4 million people aged 12 and older reported using cannabis at least 20 days in the previous month—outpacing the 17.2 million who drank alcohol with similar frequency. This shift marks a striking change from decades of cannabis being portrayed as a fringe or underground activity, and highlights how mainstream cannabis consumption has become in American society

The federal survey also compared cannabis use to other substances, finding that daily or near-daily cannabis use now exceeds that of nicotine vapes, which counted 17.5 million users, and is approaching the number of daily cigarette smokers at 19.9 million. While the survey used slightly different criteria for cigarettes, the overall pattern is clear: cannabis is now a central part of the American substance landscape. "Frequent cannabis use is now a prominent feature of substance use in the United States," the survey results confirm

In contrast to the rise in adult cannabis use, the report reveals a notable decline in teen consumption. Only 8.7% of those aged 12 to 17 used cannabis in the past year, down from 14.2% in 2011—representing a nearly 40% drop over 14 years. Past-month use among adolescents also declined, falling from 6.1% in 2021 to 5% in 2025, or from about 1.6 million to 1.3 million young people. This counters the long-standing argument that legalizing adult cannabis would inevitably increase youth use

The data challenges a key talking point from opponents of legalization, who have argued that regulated markets would lead to spikes in underage consumption. However, as the survey notes, "the expansion of regulated markets has not been accompanied by the ‘explosive growth in teen use’ that many had predicted." Studies from both the US and Canada have found similar trends, with youth use remaining stable or even declining after legalization and the opening of licensed retail stores. Advocates suggest that age verification and traceability in legal markets may better protect minors than the illicit market ever did

Overall, cannabis use continues to rise among the broader population. In 2025, 21.2% of Americans aged 12 and up reported using cannabis in the previous year, equating to about 61.6 million people—a jump from 19% in 2021. Young adults aged 18 to 25 remain the most active users, with 33.7% reporting annual use, compared to 20.6% among those 26 and older. Smoking is still the most popular method, followed by edibles, vaping, and concentrates, illustrating the diversity of consumer preferences. These trends signal a profound cultural shift in attitudes toward cannabis

OG Lab notes that these findings point to a new era in US cannabis culture, where frequent adult use has become the norm even as teen consumption falls. The debate now centers less on whether cannabis use is widespread, and more on how best to regulate and educate as the market continues to evolve and mature