Highest cannabis use found among lower-income, less-educated in new survey

The highest regular cannabis use was found among lower-income, less-educated U.S. adults, according to a Gallup survey released Thursday. 

Gallup defined "regular cannabis use" as using it for a minimum of 10 days per month. Regular usage frequency varied by income and education.

The highest regular use was recorded among U.S. adults who earned less than $24,000 per year — at 16 percent — and those whose completed a high school education or less — at 13 percent — according to Gallup.

The consumption levels dropped nearly threefold with those who have advanced degrees and those who live in high-earning households. 

Only 5 percent of those with postgraduate degrees or U.S. adults who live in households bringing in at least $180,000 or more per year reported using cannabis regularly.

Regular cannabis usage also varied across age groups, gender and political affiliation.

Those under 50 are twice as likely to be regular cannabis users at 12 percent compared to those 65 and older who were at six percent. 

Men used cannabis regularly at a slightly higher rate than women at 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

Those who lived in red states were also less likely to be regular cannabis users than those who lived in blue states, Gallup said.

Ten percent of Democrats and independent voters reported being regular cannabis users, while 6 percent of Republicans reported being regular cannabis users, per Gallup. 

Cannabis is fully legal in 18 states. It is also legal in 12 states for medicinal purposes. Cannabis was first voted in for recreational use in Colorado and Washington in 2012. 

The Gallup survey was conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 8, 2023, featuring 6,386 adults. The margin of error was 1.5 points at a 95 percent confidence level.