National survey maps how cannabis use methods vary by age, race, sex, and income in the US | Research

The takeaway

Among nearly 17,000 US adults who currently use cannabis, smoking remained dominant (77%), but use methods varied significantly by demographics: women favored topicals, young adults preferred vaping, Black adults were more likely to smoke and use blunts, and older adults used more sublingual products.

Public health professionals, policymakers, and cannabis users interested in how consumption patterns vary across populations.

Black adults were 5.31x more likely to use blunts compared to White adults

What the researchers found

Smoking was most common (77.3%), followed by edibles (37.3%), vaping (34.8%), dabbing (15.0%), topicals (5.9%), sublingual (4.5%), and pills (2.1%). Women had lower odds of smoking (OR 0.65) and higher odds of topical use (OR 2.92). Black adults had higher odds of smoking (OR 2.03), lower odds of edibles (OR 0.66), and dramatically higher odds of blunt use (OR 5.31). Adults 50+ had higher odds of sublingual use (OR 2.45).

Why it matters

Different cannabis consumption methods carry different health risks: smoking and blunt use involve combustion, vaping has its own respiratory concerns, and edibles carry dosing risks. Understanding who uses which methods is essential for targeted public health messaging.

The numbers in context

n=16,999. Smoking: 77.3%. Edibles: 37.3%. Vaping: 34.8%. Dabbing: 15.0%. Topicals: 5.9%. Sublingual: 4.5%. Pills: 2.1%. Blunt subanalysis (n=12,355): Black vs White adults OR 5.31 for blunt use. Vaping most common in ages 18-25 (29.8%). Edibles popular in ages 35-49 (29.6%).

How the study worked

Combined 2022-2023 NSDUH data on 16,999 adults reporting past 30-day cannabis use. Weighted proportions and multivariable logistic regression examined seven use modalities (smoking, vaping, dabbing, edibles, pills, topicals, sublingual) across demographics. A subanalysis of 12,355 adults examined blunt use.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-reported data subject to recall and social desirability bias. Cross-sectional design cannot track changes over time. NSDUH may underrepresent some populations. The seven modality categories may not capture all emerging products. State-level differences in legal markets were only partially accounted for.

How to read the evidence

Large nationally representative survey (n=16,999) with multivariable adjustment, providing robust population-level estimates.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, using 2022-2023 NSDUH data.

The bigger picture

The stark racial disparities in use methods, particularly the 5.3-fold higher blunt use among Black adults, has direct health implications since blunts combine cannabis with tobacco. These disparities likely reflect cultural factors, product access, and marketing patterns rather than inherent preferences, and should inform harm reduction strategies.

Questions still open

Are the racial disparities in use methods changing as legal markets mature? Does the higher rate of blunt use among Black adults contribute to racial disparities in respiratory health? Would targeted harm reduction campaigns reduce combustion-based cannabis use?

Common questions

What is the most common way Americans use cannabis?

Smoking remains dominant at 77%, followed by edibles (37%) and vaping (35%). Many users employ multiple methods.

Why does blunt use matter for health?

Blunts combine cannabis with tobacco leaf wrappers, exposing users to both combustion byproducts and nicotine. The 5.3x higher blunt use among Black adults adds tobacco-related health risks on top of cannabis use.

Do older adults use cannabis differently?

Yes. Adults over 50 were 2.45 times more likely to use sublingual or oral products compared to younger adults, likely reflecting preference for smoke-free consumption.

Read the original research

Disparities in use modalities among adults who currently use cannabis, 2022-2023.

Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 26

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Diaby, Meman; Agbonlahor, Osayande; Fennell, Bethany Shorey; Hart, Joy L; Mattingly, Delvon T. (2025). Disparities in use modalities among adults who currently use cannabis, 2022-2023.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00283-x