Shifting Preferences: More Americans Now Smoke Cannabis Than Tobacco, Reveals New Gallup Poll

According to the latest Gallup poll, half of the American population has experimented with marijuana, exceeding the number of active tobacco cigarette smokers. The results were published on Thursday, indicating that 17 percent of U.S. adults currently smoke cannabis compared to only 11 percent who smoke cigarettes.

While the survey focused specifically on smoking, the broader range of cannabis consumption, including edibles, tinctures, and vapes, is not reflected in the results. However, the trend of Americans favoring marijuana over cigarettes is clear.

Generational data supports this trend, with 29 percent of individuals aged 18-34 saying they smoke marijuana. By comparison, a Gallup survey last year showed that only 12 percent of people aged 18-29 smoke cigarettes.

With marijuana now legalized in nearly half of U.S. states, lifetime use has reached a record high of 50 percent. This figure has seen a gradual increase from just 4 percent in 1969 to 33 percent in 1985, before reaching today’s level.

Gallup’s analysis highlights that the current 17 percent of Americans who say they smoke marijuana is not a significant increase from the previous year’s 16 percent. However, it is a marked increase from 2003, when only seven percent admitted to smoking cannabis.

The survey’s language may be somewhat limiting, as other methods of consumption like edibles, vapes, concentrates, and drinks have gained popularity, as found in a 2019 study by the American Medical Association.

Demographically, there are no significant differences in those who have tried cannabis across age groups, education levels, or genders. However, a more prominent divide exists in political affiliation, with Democrats (57 percent), independents (52 percent), and Republicans (39 percent) showing varied levels of experimentation.

The latest survey also explored concerns about the effects of marijuana use on adults and young people. A majority of respondents (55 percent) expressed little to no concern for adults, while 75 percent expressed concern for young adults and teenagers.

Gallup’s conclusion states, “As marijuana has become more available to Americans and legal in an increasing number of states, their reports of use and experimentation have increased too. Now, half of the country has tried it, while the other half say they never have.”

Public support for marijuana legalization continues to grow, with several polls released earlier this year showing that most Americans are ready to end federal marijuana prohibition, transcending party lines. The new Gallup poll is based on telephone interviews conducted between July 3-27 with 1,015 adults and has a margin of error of ±4 percentage points.