One-Third of NYC Young Adults Used Cannabis, With Edibles Surpassing Smoking as the Most Common Method
Among 372 young adults in New York City, edible cannabis was the most common method (51%), surpassing smoking (28%) and vaping (29%), with 21% becoming new vapers/smokers between visits while only 6% quit.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
At Visit 2, 58.9% of participants reported cannabis use. Edibles were the most common method (51.2%), followed by CBD products (31.8%), vaping (29.0%), and smoking (28.1%). Between visits, 20.9% became new cannabis vapers/smokers while only 6.3% quit vaping/smoking. This asymmetry (new users far exceeding quitters) was statistically significant (p = 0.007).
Key Numbers
N = 372 (median age 26, 50.5% male). Visit 1: 33.6% dual substance use, 4% exclusive cannabis. Visit 2: 58.9% any cannabis use, 51.2% edibles, 31.8% CBD, 29.0% vape, 28.1% smoke, 3.7% topical. 20.9% new vapers/smokers, 6.3% quit (p = 0.007).
How They Did This
Longitudinal cohort study (VapeScan) recruiting 372 adults aged 18-50 in NYC from 2021-2024, independently of cannabis use. Two visits with increasingly detailed cannabis questionnaires. Described product types, methods, frequency, and transitions between visits.
Why This Research Matters
The dominance of edibles over smoking among young urban adults represents a significant shift in cannabis consumption patterns. While edibles avoid respiratory risks, they carry unique risks including delayed onset, overconsumption, and inconsistent dosing.
The Bigger Picture
The shift toward edibles may have mixed public health implications: fewer respiratory risks from smoking but potential for overconsumption and accidental intoxication. The very low quit rate (6%) for inhaled cannabis suggests that once initiated, young adults rarely stop.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
NYC urban sample may not represent other populations. Small sample limits subgroup analyses. VapeScan was designed for e-cigarette research, so cannabis measures evolved between visits. Self-reported use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is the shift toward edibles reducing respiratory harms in this population?
- ?Why is the quit rate for inhaled cannabis so low among young adults?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 51% use edibles, surpassing smoking (28%) and vaping (29%)
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal cohort with two visits providing transition data. Moderate evidence limited by sample size and urban-specific recruitment.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 with data from 2021-2024.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis products and trends in a cohort of young adults: The VapeScan longitudinal study.
- Published In:
- Tobacco induced diseases, 23 (2025)
- Authors:
- McGraw, Katlyn E, Oelsner, Elizabeth C, LoIacono, Nancy J, Gao, Siyue, Anderson, William, Sangapalaarachchi, Dona, Illievski, Vesna, Liu, Justin, Martins, Silvia, Sanchez, Tiffany R, Shimbo, Daichi, Navas-Acien, Ana
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07103
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are edibles safer than smoking cannabis?
Edibles avoid respiratory risks from smoke inhalation. However, they carry their own risks including delayed onset (leading to overconsumption), unpredictable absorption, and accidental ingestion by children.
Why are so few people quitting inhaled cannabis?
Only 6.3% of vapers/smokers quit between visits, while 20.9% started. This asymmetry may reflect the addictive properties of inhaled THC delivery, social normalization in NYC, and the ease of continued access in a legalizing environment.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07103APA
McGraw, Katlyn E; Oelsner, Elizabeth C; LoIacono, Nancy J; Gao, Siyue; Anderson, William; Sangapalaarachchi, Dona; Illievski, Vesna; Liu, Justin; Martins, Silvia; Sanchez, Tiffany R; Shimbo, Daichi; Navas-Acien, Ana. (2025). Cannabis products and trends in a cohort of young adults: The VapeScan longitudinal study.. Tobacco induced diseases, 23. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/210320
MLA
McGraw, Katlyn E, et al. "Cannabis products and trends in a cohort of young adults: The VapeScan longitudinal study.." Tobacco induced diseases, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/210320
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis products and trends in a cohort of young adults: Th..." RTHC-07103. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mcgraw-2025-cannabis-products-and-trends
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.