Daily Cannabis Use Amplifies Cognitive Problems in People With Chronic Conditions
A massive national survey found that daily cannabis use was associated with 145% higher rates of cognitive difficulty among people with chronic medical conditions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 94,918 U.S. adults, daily cannabis use was associated with 145% higher prevalence of difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions among those with chronic conditions, and 183% higher among those without. Monthly use showed 76% and 97% increases respectively.
Key Numbers
94,918 participants. Cognitive difficulty prevalence: 12.7% overall, 17.6% with chronic conditions vs 5.7% without. Daily cannabis use: 7.4%. Monthly use: 14.9%. Daily use + chronic condition: 145% higher cognitive difficulty.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a nationally representative telephone survey of U.S. adults aged 18+.
Why This Research Matters
With millions of Americans using cannabis while managing chronic conditions, understanding how cannabis interacts with existing cognitive challenges is critical for informed decision-making.
The Bigger Picture
This study challenges the assumption that cannabis is cognitively harmless, particularly for the large population of people already dealing with chronic health conditions that affect thinking and memory.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine if cannabis causes cognitive difficulty or if people with cognitive problems use more cannabis. Self-reported data. Cannot account for cannabis potency, strain, or method of use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does the cognitive impact differ by type of cannabis product or consumption method?
- ?Are certain chronic conditions more susceptible to cannabis-related cognitive effects?
- ?Is the association reversible with cessation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 145% higher cognitive difficulty with daily cannabis use plus chronic conditions
- Evidence Grade:
- Very large nationally representative sample provides strong population-level evidence, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study using 2022 BRFSS data, the most current available.
- Original Title:
- Cognitive Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering, or Making Decisions According to Chronic Medical Conditions and Cannabis Use Among US Adults in 2022.
- Published In:
- Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 22(7-9), 32-39 (2025)
- Authors:
- Merrill, Ray M(2)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07126
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis affect thinking and memory?
This study found daily cannabis use was associated with substantially higher rates of cognitive difficulty across the U.S. population, with the strongest effects seen in people without pre-existing conditions (183% increase) and significant effects in those with chronic conditions (145% increase).
Is occasional cannabis use safer for cognition than daily use?
Monthly cannabis use was associated with smaller but still significant increases in cognitive difficulty (76-97%), suggesting a dose-response pattern where more frequent use correlates with more cognitive impact.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07126APA
Merrill, Ray M. (2025). Cognitive Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering, or Making Decisions According to Chronic Medical Conditions and Cannabis Use Among US Adults in 2022.. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 22(7-9), 32-39.
MLA
Merrill, Ray M. "Cognitive Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering, or Making Decisions According to Chronic Medical Conditions and Cannabis Use Among US Adults in 2022.." Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 2025.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cognitive Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering, or Making D..." RTHC-07126. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/merrill-2025-cognitive-difficulty-concentrating-remembering
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.