Cannabis addiction is climbing sharply among American adults in their forties. That is the finding of new research tracking decades of drug use across the United States. The share of adults aged 40 to 50 reporting symptoms of cannabis use disorder almost doubled over eight years. It rose from 3.3% in 2017 to 6.5% last year, a jump researchers describe as a 97% increase. The figures come from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Longitudinal Panel Study. It is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. They paint a picture of a habit that is quietly tightening its grip on midlife Americans. Other substances, meanwhile, are falling out of favour.

A Growing Diagnosis Among Midlife Adults

Researchers define cannabis use disorder as a pattern of harmful use. It covers people who consume large amounts, use marijuana longer than intended, or feel unable to stop. It also covers those who continue despite dangerous circumstances, suffer withdrawal symptoms or neglect their responsibilities. Megan Patrick, the study’s lead researcher, said the rise reflects more than casual use. This index is based on individuals reporting that their cannabis use has negative effects on their life, she explained. As a result, doctors are now more likely than ever to encounter patients quietly struggling with cannabis addiction. Patrick said medical providers should be aware that a growing share of midlife adults are dealing with these symptoms.

Daily Use Reaching Record Levels

The wider data support that picture. Daily marijuana use hit record levels among younger and midlife adults in 2025. It reached 11.8% among adults aged 19 to 30, up from 6.9% in 2015. Meanwhile, among those aged 35 to 50, daily use rose from 6.6% in 2024 to 8.5% in 2025. That is a jump within a single year. Nora Volkow directs the National Institute on Drug Abuse. She said her agency estimates that roughly 30% of all cannabis users meet the threshold for addiction. That figure shows just how common cannabis use disorder has become as consumption climbs across every age bracket.

What Is Driving the Rise

Several forces appear to be feeding the trend. First, potency has climbed dramatically. The average marijuana plant contained just 1% to 3% THC in the 1970s. Today, according to Smart Approaches to Marijuana, it contains 18% to 23%. In addition, Volkow pointed to rising use of cannabis to treat medical conditions without a doctor’s involvement. She also cited declining public perception of risk as a key contributor. Greater dispensary density and proximity to homes have, in turn, been linked with higher rates of use, she added. Robert Brock, of telehealth company NuggMD, agreed that wider access means more adults are treating themselves. They rarely consult a doctor first. Among young adults, 11.4% reported using intoxicating hemp derived THC products in the past year. These included Delta 8, Delta 10 and HHC. These products, however, remain barely regulated compared with traditional cannabis. The National Institute on Drug Abuse also estimates that heavy, frequent use increased fifteenfold between 1990 and 2022.

A Shift Away From Alcohol and Cigarettes

Even as cannabis addiction climbs, other substances are fading. Cigarette smoking over the past month ranged from 8.3% of young adults to 10.6% of adults aged 55 to 65. A separate Gallup poll found smoking at a record low of 11%. Alcohol consumption dropped to 54%, also a record low, while 9% of adults reported vaping and 4% used nicotine pouches. Nicotine vaping and pouch use, nonetheless, remain elevated among young adults. Vaping over the past month tripled, and pouch use over the past year more than doubled since 2023. Patrick summed up the pattern plainly. Alcohol remains by far the most commonly used substance among all adult age groups, she said. Yet changing patterns of cannabis and nicotine use illustrate the shifting landscape of substance use in the US, she added.

Calls for Better Prevention and Treatment

Experts disagree on how much blame legalisation deserves. However, few dispute that cannabis addiction now demands more attention. Kevin Sabet, of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, argued that more customers using stronger products more often is no accident. He called it the addiction for profit business model working exactly as intended. Stanford psychologist Keith Humphreys was blunter still. He described cannabis companies as ruthless business people who make most of their money by fostering addiction. Others, by contrast, urged a more measured response. Dr Allen Masry, of All in Solutions, cautioned that legalisation alone cannot explain the rise. He argued that marijuana problems will stay high until prevention and treatment infrastructure develops enough to meet demand. Carnegie Mellon professor Jonathan Caulkins pointed to excise taxes as one of the more efficient tools for restraining harm. He said they work best when paired with stronger enforcement against illegal sellers. Justin Szela, of Pinnacle Peak Recovery, stressed that people sustain recovery best when they find other ways to cope. That includes managing stress, sleep and loneliness. The workplace impact, meanwhile, is already visible. Quest Diagnostics found cannabis accounted for 52.5% of positive workplace hair drug tests last year. As a result, positive results climbed 58.9% since 2021. As Patrick put it, these are important behaviours to watch and priorities for public health. In the end, cannabis addiction is no longer a fringe concern. It is a growing public health challenge that touches workplaces, households and midlife Americans alike.

Source: dbrecoveryresources