Cannabis Users Are More Sensitive to Cigarette Price Increases Than Non-Users
Smokers who also use cannabis are significantly more responsive to cigarette price increases than non-cannabis-using smokers, suggesting tobacco taxes are especially effective for co-users.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis-using smokers had total cigarette demand elasticity of -0.47 vs. -0.36 for non-users, meaning they were more likely to reduce or quit smoking when cigarette prices increased.
Key Numbers
2004-2019 data, ~50,000 adults/year. Smoking declined 24.5% to 16.6%. Cannabis use rose 5.8% to 11.6%. Co-use rose 3.6% to 4.5%. Total demand elasticity: -0.47 (cannabis users) vs. -0.36 (non-users).
How They Did This
Two-part econometric model analyzing cross-sectional NSDUH data from 2004-2019 (annual mean ~50,000 adults), comparing cigarette price elasticity between current cannabis users and non-users.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis use rises and cigarette smoking declines, understanding how these markets interact helps design more effective tobacco control policy. If co-users are more price-sensitive, tobacco taxes provide extra benefit for this growing subgroup.
The Bigger Picture
Co-use of cannabis and tobacco is growing as cannabis normalizes. The finding that co-users are more price-sensitive to cigarettes suggests that cannabis availability may actually help people quit smoking when combined with higher tobacco prices.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional data cannot establish causation. Self-reported substance use may be inaccurate. Price measures may not capture local variation. Cannot determine if cannabis is a substitute for cigarettes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis use directly make people more willing to quit smoking, or do co-users have different economic profiles?
- ?Could cannabis be positioned as a harm reduction tool for smoking cessation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Large national dataset spanning 15 years with robust econometric methods — strong evidence for the price sensitivity difference.
- Study Age:
- Analysis covering 2004-2019, capturing the period of rising cannabis normalization alongside declining smoking rates.
- Original Title:
- Differential Responsiveness to Cigarette Prices by U.S. Adults Who Do and Do Not Use Cannabis.
- Published In:
- Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (2025)
- Authors:
- Yao, Tingting, Sung, Hai-Yen, Chu, Lela, Spetz, Joanne, Max, Wendy
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07994
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are people who use cannabis more likely to quit smoking?
This study found they're more responsive to cigarette price increases — meaning tobacco taxes are especially effective at reducing smoking among cannabis users. Whether cannabis directly aids quitting is a separate question.
Is cannabis replacing cigarettes?
Co-use is actually rising (3.6% to 4.5%), but smoking is declining overall. The interaction is complex — cannabis users may be more willing to drop cigarettes when prices rise because they have an alternative substance.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07994APA
Yao, Tingting; Sung, Hai-Yen; Chu, Lela; Spetz, Joanne; Max, Wendy. (2025). Differential Responsiveness to Cigarette Prices by U.S. Adults Who Do and Do Not Use Cannabis.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf205
MLA
Yao, Tingting, et al. "Differential Responsiveness to Cigarette Prices by U.S. Adults Who Do and Do Not Use Cannabis.." Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf205
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Differential Responsiveness to Cigarette Prices by U.S. Adul..." RTHC-07994. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/yao-2025-differential-responsiveness-to-cigarette
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.