Number of People Admitting to Cannabis Use Nearly Doubles in Three Years

Twice as Many U.S. Citizens Admit to Cannabis Use than Three Years Ago

According to a Gallup poll released yesterday, 13 percent of adults surveyed admitted they “currently” use marijuana, up from 7 percent in 2013. The figure represents about 33 million adult cannabis users in the U.S.

Either a large number of Americans have just started using marijuana — perhaps due to newly legal markets since the first survey — or, more likely, that more are admitting to using the drug as the stigma often associated with cannabis use wears off.

“The results show that age and religiosity are key determinants of marijuana use,” Gallup analyst Justin McCarthy said in the report. “Almost one in five adults (19 percent) under the age of 30 report currently using it — at least double the rate seen among each older age group.”

Just 9 percent of churchgoers admitted to being cannabis consumers, compared to 14 percent who indicated they seldom or never attended church. According to the survey, people in the western part of the country — who have the most access to formal markets — smoke marijuana (14 percent) than those in the East (9 percent), Midwest (9 percent) and South (6 percent.)

Nine states will vote on legalizing cannabis for either medical or recreational use in November. According to a June poll from Quinnipiac University, 54 percent of Americans support general legalization of cannabis.