37% of California Adults Used Cannabis After Legalization, with 38% of Users Consuming Multiple Times Daily

Among 15,208 census-weighted California adults surveyed in 2022-2023, 37% currently used cannabis, 30% formerly used, and 33% never used. Among current users, 38% used multiple times daily (very frequent), 33% used 4-7 times per week (frequent), and 30% used 3 times per week or less (occasional). Very frequent users were more likely to be male (OR=1.8), have lower income, and have initiated use before age 18. Most users obtained products from licensed dispensaries and felt comfortable discussing use with physicians, but primarily got information from other sources.

Online questionnaire administered to 15,309 census-weighted California adults (December 2022 to February 2023) as part of the Impact 64 study. 4,020 current cannabis users completed detailed use questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression assessed variables associated with use frequency categories.

This provides one of the most detailed post-legalization snapshots of adult cannabis use patterns in the US. The finding that 38% of users consume multiple times daily challenges assumptions that most adult cannabis use is occasional or recreational.

Six years after California's recreational legalization, more than one-third of adults use cannabis, and among those users, the majority use daily or more. This level of intensive use was not widely anticipated during legalization debates.

Online survey may not reach all demographics equally. Self-report data subject to social desirability. California may not represent other states. Cannabis product types and potencies not fully captured. Cross-sectional design cannot show changes over time.