Cannabis-Only Use in the USA: Prevalence, Demographics, Use Patterns, and Health Indicators

Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of those who use cannabis alone versus those who use cannabis and other substances is important to inform public education and programming that seeks to protect public health and consumer safety, as the risk profile of cannabis-only use may differ from polydrug use. Accordingly, this study used nationally representative data to estimate the prevalence and explore the demographic characteristics, cannabis use behaviors, and self-reported health of US adults with past 30-day cannabis-only use, as compared with adults. 

Data came from adults 18 years and older who responded to the 2017 or 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and reported past 30-day cannabis use (n = 12,143). The prevalence of past 30-day cannabis-only use among US adults was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.8, 1.0) and varied by age group (from 0.6-2.0%). The study concluded that the prevalence of adult cannabis-only use in the US is low — most cannabis consumers report using other  cannabis plus other substances. 

---