More than a third of California adults are current cannabis consumers, a new survey finds, and the vast majority of them say marijuana provides health benefits—regardless of whether or not they are specifically using it for medical purposes.
This is one of the findings of a new, comprehensive survey conducted by a team from the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The study surveyed more than 15 000 people from the state about their marijuana usage from December 2022 until February 2023. Results were published by the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Reseach last month.
Lead author Linda Hill, a UC San Diego medical professor, said the study “provides the first comprehensive understanding of cannabis use patterns in California since the implementation of Proposition 64″—the 2016 voter-approved law that legalized marijuana for adults in the state.
Of the approximately 15,000 people who responded to the survey initially, 37 percent reported being current cannabis consumers (meaning they used the drug within the previous three months). Another 30 percent claimed they were former users.
The researchers then asked 5,000 people to fill out a longer questionnaire. They partnered with Quester, an independent market research firm, in order to make sure the sample included Spanish-speaking Californians.
Positive impacts have been reported on mental health (82%), physical health (62%), and emotional (81%) well-being.
The research manager for the Herbert Wertheim Public Health Transportation Research and Education for Driving Safety center at UC San Diego, Renee Dell’Acqua said, “These methods have allowed us to gather deeper data that is not possible through a traditional survey study.” The study provides a detailed picture of adult cannabis use in California, which can help inform policy decisions and initiatives relating to public health.
The majority of respondents, whether recreational users or patients who use medical marijuana, reported cannabis as having a positive impact on their physical, mental and emotional health (82%)
The study states that “Other benefits perceived by participants included improved work performance (4 %),”), clear focussed thinking (63%), and better relationships (57%). The study found that brain fog (21%), lack of motivation (21 %).”), and other negative effects were most commonly reported.
Seventy-eight percent of participants said they were comfortable discussing marijuana use with their doctor, though a smaller portion—66 percent—reported that their physicians are aware of their cannabis use. Only 15 percent of participants said that they seek information on marijuana from healthcare professionals.
Most respondents (51%) said that they get their information via the Internet and from friends or relatives (50%) instead.
Californians reported that they buy cannabis from retailers, but also use delivery services. Most respondents (94%) and 91% respectively) said that they believed these stores and delivery services were licensed.
The authors note that “over 90 percent of customers who purchase from delivery services or dispensaries perceive them as licensed.”
“Most users obtained cannabis from licensed dispensaries…and reported mental, emotional, and physical health benefits.”
The report says that 42 percent also said that they got their marijuana from friends and 12 percent grew it themselves. Report: “For dosing info, 48% of current marijuana users relied upon experience, while 29% looked at packaging, 25% sought advice from the budtender, 20% used internet, 20% turned to friends or relatives, and 15% didn’t seek any information.”
Most consumers also reported using multiple product types, with only 9 percent saying that they stick to a single product—typically flower (4.6 percent) and edibles (2.8 percent).
The study states that “commonly used products” include edibles (50%) and flower (56 %),”, and adds that these rates are “somewhat different from the 2018 California Department of Public Health Study, which found flower ingestion (58.2%), flower inhalation (15.9%), as well as vaping (17 %).”
Californian cannabis consumers also consume marijuana regularly. 38 percent report using it multiple times per day, and 33 percent say they do so four or more times each week. Only 30% of cannabis users reported using it three times or less per week.
Authors wrote that while cannabis users “represent an array of demographic groups,” the current users are more likely to have been younger men and were not Asian or Pacific Islander. “Compared to former cannabis users, current marijuana users were more married and older when they first started using the drug.”
Very frequent users are more likely than not to be males, less educated or have low income.
Most cannabis is consumed at home by users (93%) and as a form of entertainment (75%). Some other places included someone else’s home (31%), at parties (29%), outside (24%) or their vehicle (22%) Beyond entertainment, the use of these devices was frequently paired with other creative activities (45%)
Around a third (36%) of marijuana users reported using alcohol concurrently, while a quarter (24%) mixed smoking and marijuana. Nine percent reported using marijuana in conjunction with other drugs.
A grant provided by the California Department of Cannabis Control was used to support Impact 64.
Californian officials invite research proposals to a second grant round under a new program that aims to inform the public and policymakers about California’s state marijuana law.
DCC says that for its new round of grants, worth $30 million, and funded through marijuana tax revenue it prioritizes proposals in the areas of public health and safety education, crop production, state and locally marijuana policies, consumer preference, environmental sustainability and many other topics.
California has stepped up to the plate at a moment when federal funding is being cut for research on cannabis, said DCC Director Nicole Elliott in a release of a month ago.
Some operators, on the other hand, claim that recent tax increases “could end this industry.”
Separately, in recent weeks the Senate advanced a measure that included provisions to end random marijuana drug tests amongst correctional officers within the state prison system.
In the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which would be ratified in the measure that cleared the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee with a 17-0 unanimous vote on Monday, the majority of correctional officers will no longer be tested randomly for cannabis, or punished over off-duty usage.
A federally-funded report, published last month by the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA), found that the use of marijuana among U.S. seniors 65 years and older had increased significantly in the past few years due to the legalization of medical and recreational uses.
The research showed that cannabis consumption has been increasing over the last two decades. It went from 1 percent consumption in 2005 to 4 percent consumption in 2018. According to the latest results, which are based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), past-month consumption will increase to 4.8 per cent in 2021 and 7.0 per cent in 2023.
According to the report, marijuana usage has increased among all groups, including those who identify as being “other”, women, college graduates and married couples, along with those in higher-income brackets.
The data also revealed that those with chronic illnesses reported an increase in recent use.
The authors referred to “shifts” in the cannabis consumption of older adults.
The researchers noted that, initially, the adults who had highest incomes showed the least prevalence of cannabis use, compared with other income groups. But by 2023, this had changed, and they were showing the most prevalence.
In the report, it was noted that “the rise in the use of cannabis among those 65 years and older who live in jurisdictions where the drug is legal highlights the importance for clinicians and patients to receive structured educational support in such states.” This can lead to serious complications with chronic illnesses.
Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.