A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that while smoking remains the most popular way to consume cannabis in the United States, other methods like eating, vaping, and dabbing are becoming increasingly common. The report, published on April 10, analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which surveyed thousands of adults aged 18 and older.
This report is significant as it includes findings from an optional marijuana module added to the 2022 survey. This module, which allowed respondents to select multiple methods of marijuana use for the first time since 2016, highlighted shifts in consumption trends. The 2022 results show that 15.3 percent of adults reported current marijuana use, with 7.9 percent using it daily. Among those who consume cannabis, 79.4 percent reported smoking, while 41.6 percent reported eating it, 30.3 percent preferred vaping, and 14.6 percent chose dabbing.
The authors pointed out that monitoring these trends is crucial since each method carries unique health risks. For instance, the increased availability of edibles has led to a rise in accidental ingestion among children. The report also indicates that about 46.7 percent of marijuana users reported using multiple methods, commonly combining smoking with either eating or vaping.
Vaping and dabbing were particularly popular among younger adults. The report found that approximately one in four adults aged 18–24 and 25–34 reported current marijuana use, while around one in eight reported using it daily. Additionally, the highest rates of vaping and dabbing were noted among respondents within the 18–24 age group and non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander individuals.
Interestingly, the survey’s findings also revealed that current and daily marijuana use were more prevalent in 2022 among males, non-Hispanic multiracial adults, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and those with only a high school education or lower. The marijuana module was utilized in 22 states and two U.S. territories in 2022, a notable increase from the 12 states included in the 2016 module. This expansion complicates direct comparisons, as the authors noted inconsistencies in previous survey years.
The report stresses the importance of education regarding the various routes of cannabis consumption. A four-person team from the CDC’s Division of Overdose Prevention emphasized that public health initiatives must address the diverse ways people consume cannabis, especially given the rising trends.
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