Problem Cannabis Use on the Rise

Cannabis is becoming a bigger part of American life—and for a growing share of users, a problem. A new study in JAMA Psychiatry finds nearly 1 in 10 US men and about 6% of women met criteria for cannabis use disorder in 2024, both up several percentage points since 2021, per the New York Times. Moderate-to-severe cases also increased among men and women, especially those over 35, per MedPage Today. Among people who used marijuana, roughly 30% showed signs of addiction, a higher share than among drinkers, fewer than 20% of whom met criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Cannabis use disorder is marked by cravings, an inability to cut back or quit, and continued use despite social, physical, or psychological problems, according to the CDC, which estimates 30% of users have CUD. The study's researchers, using national survey data, point to increasingly potent THC products as a key driver. "The notion that cannabis is not addictive may basically be incorrect," says Dr. Nora Volkow, who leads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, per the Times. There are no FDA-approved treatments for cannabis addiction, and experts say midlife spikes in use could have ripple effects on families and kids.