65% of Daily Cannabis Users Met Criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder

What the researchers found

Median daily consumption was approximately 130 mg THC, with wide variability (25% consumed 50 mg or less, 25% consumed 290 mg or more). 65% met criteria for CUD: 39% mild, 18% moderate, 8% severe. Greater daily mg THC predicted higher CUD criteria count and higher odds of all severity levels.

Why it matters

This is one of the largest studies to quantify actual THC consumption among daily users and link it to disorder severity. The finding that two-thirds meet CUD criteria challenges the narrative that daily cannabis use is typically unproblematic.

The numbers in context

4,134 daily consumers; median daily THC ~130 mg; 25th percentile 50 mg, 75th percentile 290 mg; mean 2.5 CUD criteria endorsed; 65% met CUD criteria (39% mild, 18% moderate, 8% severe); higher mg THC predicted more criteria and higher severity

How the study worked

4,134 US adult daily cannabis consumers completed comprehensive online surveys covering product types, amounts, potencies, and administration methods. Daily mg THC was calculated using a novel method adjusting for puff size and THC loss. DSM-5 CUD criteria were assessed.

What this study cannot tell us

Online convenience sample may overrepresent heavier users, THC estimation relies on self-reported potencies and amounts, cross-sectional design cannot determine if high THC consumption causes CUD or if CUD drives higher consumption, DSM-5 criteria may over-identify disorder in legal-use populations

How to read the evidence

Large national sample with novel THC quantification method, but online convenience sample and cross-sectional design limit causal interpretation

When this study was published

Published 2025

The bigger picture

As daily cannabis use becomes more normalized, understanding that the majority of daily users meet criteria for a clinical disorder reframes the conversation. The dose-response relationship suggests that reducing consumption, not just quitting, could meaningfully reduce disorder risk.

Questions still open

• Would reducing daily THC consumption below a threshold reduce CUD symptoms? Is the 130 mg median changing as higher-potency products become more available? How do these rates compare to daily alcohol users meeting alcohol use disorder criteria?

Common questions

Read the original research

Quantity of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol consumption and cannabis use disorder among daily cannabis consumers.

Addiction (Abingdon, England), 120(4), 676-685

Citation

Borodovsky, Jacob T; Hasin, Deborah S; Wall, Melanie; Struble, Cara A; Habib, Mohammad I; Livne, Ofir; Liu, Jun; Chen, Lynn; Aharonovich, Efrat; Budney, Alan J. (2025). Quantity of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol consumption and cannabis use disorder among daily cannabis consumers.. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 120(4), 676-685. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16700

Explore the wider topic

• Physical vs Psychological Cannabis Dependence: What Science Actually Shows
• The Gap Between Cannabis Perception and Science: Why What We Believe Outpaces What We Know
• Cannabis Use Disorder: Am I Addicted? Self-Assessment Guide
• Cross-Addiction After Quitting Weed: When One Habit Replaces Another
• Is Weed Addictive? What the Research Actually Shows
• Is Cannabis Addictive? What the DSM-5 and Brain Science Say
• Quitting Weed and Alcohol Together: What to Know About Dual Cessation
• Is Rehab Necessary for Weed? An Honest Assessment
• Signs You May Have Cannabis Use Disorder: An Honest Self-Assessment
• Weed Vape Pen Addiction: Why Vaping Makes It Harder to Quit
• THC Drinks vs Edibles: How Your Body Processes Each One
• Homemade vs Store-Bought Edibles: Dosing, Safety, and What to Know
• How to Store Edibles: Shelf Life and Potency Preservation
• Cannabis Dosing Guide: How Much THC Is Right for Different Situations
• What Is a Tincture and How Is It Different from an Edible
• How to Avoid Greening Out: Dosing, Tolerance, and Prevention