California has long been known as an epicenter of cannabis culture, and a new study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research illustrates how pot is a part of daily life for many in the state.
A survey from researchers at the University of California at San Diego found that over one-third of Californian adults report active cannabis use.
The researchers surveyed over 15,000 California residents as initial participants, of which a subset of over 5,000 participants were selected to complete a more detailed questionnaire. Respondents were demographically matched to the 2020 California census to ensure that their sample was representative of the population.
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The survey defined active cannabis users as those who had used cannabis within the last three months. Of the 37 percent that identified as a current user, 58 percent consumed cannabis at least daily, with 38 percent reporting using cannabis multiple times a day.
This is a contrast to prior studies, which showed lower rates of daily cannabis usage. In 2022, the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 28.2 percent of current cannabis users used daily, illustrating an increase in daily usage.
Beyond cannabis usage, this study also found that 91 percent of cannabis users consumed multiple product types, with flower being the most popular, then edibles, and vaping, at 56 percent, 50 percent, and 36 percent, respectively. Northern California showed higher flower use than other regions, “warranting further study to understand regional consumer patterns.”
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77 percent of the current users reported buying cannabis from dispensaries, and 94 percent of that group believed their dispensary was legally licensed. In California, cannabis was legalized for recreational use in 2016. Two-thirds of users stated that it was important for their cannabis source to be licensed, which was a “contrast to public reporting regarding the strong presence of the illicit marketplace,” the study authors wrote.
While this survey provides valuable data for those looking to see California’s cannabis consumption patterns, as a cross-sectional study, it can only indicate correlation, rather than causality, opening the door for further studies.