| Title: | Cannabis Use in California Following Legalization of Recreational Use |
| Authors: | Linda Hill, Daniel Ageze, Renee Dell’Acqua, Alice Gold, Ilene Lanin-Kettering, Jill Rybar, Tom Shaughnessy, Sara Baird, and Thomas D. Marcotte |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Journal: | Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research |
A new study by Linda Hill from the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UCSD, Tom Marcotte, from the Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR), and others focused on cannabis use patterns in California in 2022–2023, following the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2016.
The cross-sectional study involved a detailed online questionnaire administered to over 15,000 respondents aged 21 years and older between December 2022 and February 2023.
Thirty-seven percent reported cannabis use within the past three months. Use frequency varied, with 38% reporting very frequent use (multiple times daily), 33% reporting frequent use (four to seven times weekly), and 30% reporting occasional use (three or fewer times weekly). Demographically, very frequent users were predominantly male, less educated, and had lower incomes compared to occasional users.
Most respondents reported using multiple types of products, primarily dried flower (80%), vaping products (66%), and edibles (61%). The majority sourced their products from dispensaries (77%), which users overwhelmingly believed to be licensed. Home was the most common location for use (93%), followed by use during entertainment (75%) and creative activities (45%). Concurrent use of alcohol (36%) and cigarettes (24%) was notable.
The study identified several factors associated with cannabis use frequency. For instance, users who started consuming cannabis at a younger age and those with lower educational attainment or income levels tended to use more frequently. Moreover, daily users often initiated cannabis use earlier in life.
Although many respondents reported perceived health benefits, there remains a significant information gap, as most users relied on informal sources rather than healthcare providers for cannabis-related information.
Read the full study here.
Citation: Hill L, Ageze D, Dell'Acqua R, Gold A, Lanin-Kettering I, Rybar J, Shaughnessy T, Baird S, Marcotte TD. Cannabis Use in California Following Legalization of Recreational Use. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2025 Jun 9. doi: 10.1089/can.2024.0179. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40489356.