Over a Quarter of Past-Month Cannabis Users Meet Criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder
A nationally representative survey of 1,719 past-month cannabis users found that 26% of medical users and 21% of recreational users met criteria for cannabis use disorder, with daily users reaching 31-32% CUD rates.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Medical cannabis users had a 26% CUD rate (vs. 21% for recreational). CUD rates rose sharply with frequency: occasional medical use 19%, moderate 24%, daily 31%. For recreational: occasional 10%, moderate 24%, daily 32%. Younger adults (18-29) and males showed the highest CUD scores.
Key Numbers
1,719 past-month users; medical CUD rate 26% (95% CI: 19.8-30.4); recreational CUD rate 21% (95% CI: 17.7-25.2); daily use CUD rates 31-32% regardless of use type.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of AmeriSpeak panel data. 1,719 adults reporting past-month cannabis use from 6,543+ respondents (Dec 2023-Jan 2024). CUD assessed via CUDIT. Multinomial logistic regression with sociodemographic controls.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis use surges in the US, this study provides the clearest picture yet of CUD prevalence by use type and frequency. Medical users have slightly higher CUD rates than recreational users.
The Bigger Picture
The dose-response pattern and similar daily-use CUD rates across medical and recreational users suggest frequency matters more than reason for use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish whether frequency drives CUD or vice versa. Self-reported data. Medical cannabis users may score higher partly because they use more frequently by necessity.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does treating the underlying medical condition reduce CUD risk in medical users?
- ?Would quantity-adjusted analyses show different CUD patterns?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 26% of medical cannabis users met CUD criteria
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationally representative sample with validated CUD screening tool provides reliable prevalence estimates.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication using December 2023-January 2024 survey data.
- Original Title:
- Patterns of past month cannabis consumption and cannabis use disorder - Insights from a nationally representative survey.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 272, 112680 (2025)
- Authors:
- Kritikos, Alexandra F(2), Taylor, Bruce, Lamuda, Phoebe, Pollack, Harold, Schneider, John A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06862
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is medical cannabis use safer than recreational use?
In this study, medical cannabis users had slightly higher CUD rates (26%) than recreational users (21%), though this may reflect more frequent use among medical users.
How common is cannabis use disorder?
Among past-month users, about one in four to one in five met CUD criteria, rising to nearly one in three among daily users.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06862APA
Kritikos, Alexandra F; Taylor, Bruce; Lamuda, Phoebe; Pollack, Harold; Schneider, John A. (2025). Patterns of past month cannabis consumption and cannabis use disorder - Insights from a nationally representative survey.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 272, 112680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112680
MLA
Kritikos, Alexandra F, et al. "Patterns of past month cannabis consumption and cannabis use disorder - Insights from a nationally representative survey.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112680
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Patterns of past month cannabis consumption and cannabis use..." RTHC-06862. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kritikos-2025-patterns-of-past-month
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.