More Americans are consuming cannabis than ever before. The rise comes amid relaxed drug policies and wider normalization. The latest federal data suggest the generational gap may be narrowing, with older Americans reporting higher rates of use than ever before.
According to the annual Monitoring the Future study, more than one in five older adults said they consumed cannabis in the last year. Around one in seven said they consumed it in the last month.
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Nearly 22 percent of people ages 55 to 65 reported using the plant in the previous 12 months. That figure is up from just over 18 percent in 2024. Researchers said the year-over-year increase was statistically significant.
The study found 7.4 percent of adults ages 55 to 65 consumed edibles and 4.2 percent vaped cannabis, but it does not provide a comprehensive breakdown of how older adults consumed the plant.
Meanwhile, past-year cannabis use among adults ages 19 to 30 dipped slightly in 2025. In 2024, an all-time high of 45 percent of young adults said they consumed cannabis in the last year. In 2025, that number dropped to just under 42 percent.
When it comes to middle-aged adults, self-reported cannabis consumption continues to rise. Roughly 30 percent of adults aged 35-50 said they used marijuana in the last year. Just over 20 percent used it in the last month, while 8.5 percent reported consuming cannabis daily or near daily.
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The Monitoring the Future study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, has tracked Americans’ substance use for decades. Researchers survey roughly 20,000 people each year. The same people are not necessarily surveyed each year; the total participant pool includes about 120,000 people.
The survey also relies on self-reported data. It’s possible that not every person who consumes cannabis is willing to admit it. However, eroding stigma may encourage more people to self-report.
The rise in cannabis use among older adults underscores a broader shift in who is consuming the plant. While young adults remain far more likely to use cannabis, the latest data suggest older generations are increasingly becoming part of the picture.
