La Jolla, CA: The percentage of Californians who report regularly consuming cannabis has largely remained unchanged following statewide legalization, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
An investigator affiliated with the University of California at San Diego assessed cannabis use trends among those age 18 and older for the years 2017 to 2024. (Adult-use cannabis sales began on January 1, 2018.)
Researchers reported that the “prevalence of past-year and past-month cannabis use among adults in California remained largely stable across the eight-year study.” Specifically, researchers identified no change in the percentage of young adults ages 18 to 25 engaging in past-month cannabis use.
Investigators did identify shifts in the type of cannabis products consumed, with many consumers switching from inhaled products to edibles. They also acknowledged an increase in cannabis use among those age 75 and older.
Full text of the study, “Changes in adult cannabis use patterns following retail availability in California (2017 to 2024),” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.