In 2023, the number of Americans who use marijuana on a daily basis exceeded the number of those who drink alcohol daily, the Associated Press reports, citing a study by Carnegie Mellon University.
About 17.7 million people consumed marijuana daily or almost daily the year before last, compared to 14.7 million who drink alcohol with the same frequency, the study said. For comparison, in 1992, less than 1 million Americans used marijuana almost daily.
“A good 40% of marijuana users use it daily or almost daily. This pattern of consumption is more closely associated with tobacco than alcohol,” said Jonathan Caulkins, a researcher at the university.
He emphasized that the data is based on surveys, and respondents may have been more willing to admit to daily marijuana use due to the fact that it is becoming more socially acceptable in the United States.
While marijuana is legal in most states for medical or recreational use, it is still prohibited at the federal level.
Studies show that frequent use increases the likelihood of becoming addicted to marijuana or developing cannabinoid psychosis, said David Gorelick, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
The Ukrainian Association of Medical Cannabis nongovernmental organization has sent an electronic petition to the Verkhovna Rada seeking to legalize cannabis for the scientific and medical purposes.
Activists are demanding to legally regulate patients’ access to cannabis drugs in the treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy, anorexia, post-traumatic syndrome, immune system diseases, arthritis and rheumatism, asthma, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, degenerative chorea, herpes, ulcers, AIDS weight loss, diabetic neuropathy, various forms of sclerosis and other serious diseases.
According to the petition, the text of which is posted on the website of the parliament on Wednesday, the use of drugs based on cannabis is regulated by the laws in Canada, the United States, Australia and EU member states.
To date, the petition has collected about 200 signatures.
In Ukraine, the use of medical cannabis is prohibited.
