Study: Medical Cannabis Use By Americans Doubled From 2013-2020

Medical cannabis use among Americans increased from 1.2% in 2013-2014 to 2.5% in 2019-2020, according to research published March 12 in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. 

The study, conducted by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine, used A modified Poisson model to estimate the average annual percent change (AAPC) of medical cannabis use from 2013 to 2020. The study suggests an AAPC of 12.9% from the period included in the model.    

“The study documents a continued nationwide increase in use of cannabis for diverse medical purposes between 2013 and 2020, two decades after the first state passed legalizing legislation.” — “Increasing Use of Cannabis for Medical Purposes among US Residents 2013-2020,” American Journal of Preventative Medicine

The analyses included “key socio-demographic and clinical subgroups” and the data analyzed was from September 2013 to November 2022. The researchers note that “living in a state that legalized medical cannabis remained significantly associated with medical cannabis use.” 

Medical cannabis is legal in 39 states and Washington D.C.  

The study does not indicate the percentage of patients that are enrolled in low-THC or CBD-only programs administered by some conservative states.  

A 2022 Pew Research poll found 30% of respondents backed cannabis legalization for only medical purposes, while 59% of respondents said it should be legal for medical and adult-use.