More Americans are now using marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis than consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes, according to newly released data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In 2025, approximately 21.4 million Americans aged 12 and over reported daily marijuana use. This figure surpasses the 17.2 million who reported drinking alcohol every day or most days, and the 19.9 million who regularly smoked cigarettes. The data comes from the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Parallel to the rise in cannabis use, the past few years have seen a significant decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption. Between 2021 and 2025, daily or near-daily tobacco use dropped by 28%, while daily alcohol consumption fell by 24%.
In contrast, daily cannabis use, encompassing smoking and edibles, saw a surge of 21% during the same period. Nicotine vaping emerged as the second most prevalent daily habit, with 17.5 million users in 2025, placing overall alcohol consumption in fourth place among the reported substances.
While a larger overall number of Americans consume alcohol—including occasional drinkers—the recent survey highlights that marijuana users are more likely to maintain a regular habit. Roughly 129 million Americans aged 12 and older reported consuming alcohol in the past month, compared to 43.8 million who used marijuana in the same period. However, only about 13% of monthly alcohol consumers reported daily use, whereas 40% to 50% of monthly cannabis users admitted to daily consumption.
The survey also revealed distinct trends across different age groups. Among individuals aged 18 to 25, daily or near-daily marijuana use was reported by 10% to 12% of respondents. This demographic showed lower rates of daily alcohol consumption (3% to 5%) and daily cigarette smoking (9.6%). A significant acceleration in daily cannabis use was observed among adults aged 26 and over, with millions in their 30s, 40s, and 50s now reporting regular usage.