Americans Now Prefer Marijuana Over Tobacco, Gallup Survey Shows

For the first time, more American adults are smoking marijuana than tobacco cigarettes, according to fresh data from Gallup. The survey reveals that 15% of U.S. adults report smoking cannabis, outpacing the 11% who said they smoked cigarettes in the past week.

Gallup's analysis notes that this 15% figure is close to the 14% average seen from 2021 to 2022, aligning with a gradual upward trend over recent years.

Demographic Insights

Men are more likely than women to smoke marijuana, with reported use at 17% compared to 11%. Age also plays a role: 19% of young adults aged 18 to 34 smoke cannabis, compared to 18% of those aged 35 to 54, and just 10% of those 55 and older.

Historic Shifts

The use of marijuana among U.S. adults has more than doubled since 2013. The survey, which uses two-year averages to bolster accuracy, does not specify the mode of cannabis consumption—whether smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles.

Lifetime Use Trends

Gallup's broader questions on lifetime cannabis use reveal that nearly half (47%) of American adults have tried marijuana at least once. This metric has climbed significantly since Gallup first began asking in 1969 when only 4% admitted trying it. By 1977, the number jumped to 24%, continued to 33% by 1985, and hovered below 40% until 2015. Today, it remains just shy of 50%.

This change reflects shifting cultural norms and increasing acceptance of cannabis in American society, amid legislative and social changes regarding its use.