This study examines long-term trends in self-reported cannabis use in the United States from 1979 to 2022, comparing them with alcohol use. The analysis is based on data from 27 national surveys involving 1,641,041 participants. Key findings include: 1. **Trends in Cannabis Use**: - Use declined to a minimum in 1992, with partial recovery by 2008, and significant increases since then. - Between 2008 and 2022, the per capita rate of past-year use increased by 120%, and days of use reported per capita increased by 218%. - From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of daily or near daily use increased 15-fold. 2. **Policy Changes**: - The trends mirror changes in policy, with declines during periods of greater restriction and growth during periods of policy liberalization. - In 2022, the number of daily and near daily cannabis users exceeded that of daily and near daily alcohol users for the first time. 3. **Comparative Analysis**: - While more people drink alcohol, high-frequency drinking is less common compared to high-frequency cannabis use. - In 2022, the median drinker reported drinking on 4-5 days in the past month, while the median marijuana user reported use on 15-16 days. 4. **Methodological Considerations**: - The study uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). - The data are self-reported and may be subject to measurement error, but the trends suggest significant changes in actual use. 5. **Conclusions**: - The study highlights the shift in cannabis use patterns and the impact of policy changes on these trends. - High-frequency cannabis use is now more common than high-frequency drinking, indicating a fundamental change in the scale and nature of cannabis use in the United States. The article concludes that while the study does not establish causal relationships, the data provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cannabis use in the United States.This study examines long-term trends in self-reported cannabis use in the United States from 1979 to 2022, comparing them with alcohol use. The analysis is based on data from 27 national surveys involving 1,641,041 participants. Key findings include: 1. **Trends in Cannabis Use**: - Use declined to a minimum in 1992, with partial recovery by 2008, and significant increases since then. - Between 2008 and 2022, the per capita rate of past-year use increased by 120%, and days of use reported per capita increased by 218%. - From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of daily or near daily use increased 15-fold. 2. **Policy Changes**: - The trends mirror changes in policy, with declines during periods of greater restriction and growth during periods of policy liberalization. - In 2022, the number of daily and near daily cannabis users exceeded that of daily and near daily alcohol users for the first time. 3. **Comparative Analysis**: - While more people drink alcohol, high-frequency drinking is less common compared to high-frequency cannabis use. - In 2022, the median drinker reported drinking on 4-5 days in the past month, while the median marijuana user reported use on 15-16 days. 4. **Methodological Considerations**: - The study uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). - The data are self-reported and may be subject to measurement error, but the trends suggest significant changes in actual use. 5. **Conclusions**: - The study highlights the shift in cannabis use patterns and the impact of policy changes on these trends. - High-frequency cannabis use is now more common than high-frequency drinking, indicating a fundamental change in the scale and nature of cannabis use in the United States. The article concludes that while the study does not establish causal relationships, the data provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cannabis use in the United States.