Self-reported marijuana use among American adults has reached a record high of 17 percent, a figure tied with 2023, according to the latest Gallup Consumption Habits poll. This marks a doubling of usage since Gallup first began tracking the drug in 2013, when only 7 percent of Americans reported using it.
Concurrently, alcohol consumption has fallen to a historic low of 54 percent, matching last year's figure. Alcohol use had previously reached a 15-year high of 67 percent in 2022 before beginning its decline.
The poll indicates that individuals who consume alcohol are more likely to also use marijuana, with 21 percent of alcohol drinkers reporting marijuana use compared to 12 percent of non-drinkers. The survey asks respondents, "Keeping in mind that all of your answers in this survey are confidential, do you, yourself, smoke marijuana?" Gallup notes the question does not specify frequency and allows for respondent interpretation.
Marijuana use is most pronounced among Americans under the age of 50. One in four individuals aged 30 to 49 reported using the drug, along with 23 percent of those aged 18 to 29. Usage is also higher among those with less education and lower household incomes. Twenty percent of non-college graduates reported using marijuana, compared to 11 percent of college graduates. Among households earning less than $50,000 annually, 24 percent reported use, while 13 percent of households earning over $100,000 reported using the drug.
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Perception of marijuana among Americans is nearly evenly divided. A slight plurality of 47 percent believe the drug has a positive effect, while 46 percent view it negatively. The remaining 7 percent offered neutral views or did not answer.
Shifting Consumption Patterns
Marijuana's rising popularity has occurred alongside a steady decline in cigarette smoking over recent decades. Currently, 11 percent of Americans report smoking cigarettes, a rate that has halved since 15 years ago. Historically, cigarette use peaked at 45 percent in 1954.
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Legal Landscape and Federal Reclassification Efforts
The increase in marijuana use coincides with significant shifts in state-level legality. As of the latest data, 24 U.S. states have fully legalized recreational marijuana, and an additional 22 states have legalized it for medical use or decriminalized it. Only four states maintain complete prohibition.
Despite these state-level changes, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I substance under federal law, signifying a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other Schedule I drugs include heroin and LSD.
In December 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Justice to explore rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III, a category for drugs with moderate to low potential for dependence. In April, the Department of Justice reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved cannabinoid products to Schedule III, aligning with the executive order. Federal hearings concerning a broader reclassification of marijuana concluded on July 15, with a final recommendation now pending from Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek Julius.
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