For the first time, federal data indicates that more Americans are using marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis than they are drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. According to the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 21.4 million Americans report using cannabis at this high frequency. This figure surpasses the 19.9 million who report daily cigarette use and the 17.2 million who report daily alcohol consumption.
The survey defines daily or near-daily use as consuming a substance on 20 or more days within a 30-day period. While alcohol remains the most widely consumed substance overall when looking at occasional use, the intensity of daily consumption has shifted significantly. This trend marks a historic milestone in American substance use, reflecting decades of changing public attitudes and evolving state-level policies regarding cannabis.
Researchers note that the rise in frequent cannabis use has occurred alongside a broader movement toward legalization. Currently, a majority of U.S. states allow for medical or recreational marijuana, even as it remains classified as a controlled substance at the federal level. The data suggests that as cannabis becomes more accessible and socially normalized, the habits of American consumers are moving away from traditional substances like tobacco and alcohol.
Public health experts are now closely monitoring the implications of this shift. While some argue that consumers may be substituting cannabis for more harmful substances, others emphasize that frequent marijuana use carries its own set of health risks. As the federal government considers further reclassification of cannabis, the findings provide a critical snapshot of how daily habits are transforming across the country.