17% of Americans Now Smoke Cannabis, Tying 2023 Record High

Smoking Rates Rebound After 2024 Dip

Cannabis smoking rates among U.S. adults climbed three percentage points year-over-year, erasing a 2024 decline. Gallup's latest poll found 17% of respondents said they smoke cannabis, up from 14% in 2025 and 13% in 2024. The 2026 figure ties the previous peak recorded in 2023.

The 2024 drop had raised questions among market analysts about whether consumption was plateauing. This year's rebound says otherwise. The dip was an anomaly.

Gallup has tracked cannabis use since the early 2010s. The pollster asks respondents directly whether they smoke or consume cannabis, capturing self-reported behavior rather than sales data.

Edibles Gain Ground at 15% Adoption

Fifteen percent of Americans now consume cannabis edibles, a format that's steadily gained market share as legalization expands. The edibles figure includes gummies, baked goods, beverages, and other ingestible products. Gallup noted that 17% of respondents in certain demographic segments reported edibles use, though the poll didn't break out which segments.

Edibles appeal to consumers seeking smoke-free consumption and precise dosing. The format has become a priority for MSOs and CPG brands targeting mainstream buyers who associate smoking with stigma or health risks.

The rise in edibles consumption reflects a shift toward wellness-oriented products and away from combustion, a trend operators have leaned into with beverage and gummy launches over the past two years.

For context on how consumption methods are reshaping the market, see the CannIntel topic hub on cannabis consumption trends.

What the Numbers Mean for Operators

The 17% smoking rate translates to roughly 44 million American adults. That's a customer base larger than the populations of California and Ohio combined. Add edibles consumers—many of whom overlap with smokers—and the addressable market exceeds 50 million people.

That scale matters for MSOs navigating 280E tax burdens and state-by-state fragmentation. Higher baseline consumption supports the argument for federal reform and banking access, even as Congress remains gridlocked.

Operators are also watching whether smoking and edibles adoption tracks with legalization timelines. States that launched adult-use markets in 2023-2025 are still in early innings. Ohio, Minnesota, and Maryland count among them. Consumption could tick higher as those markets mature.

Demographic and Regional Gaps Remain

Gallup didn't release full demographic breakouts in Monday's release. Prior polls show consumption skews younger, male, and concentrated in legal states. The pollster has historically found that adults under 35 report cannabis use at roughly double the rate of those over 55.

Regional variance is stark. In states like Colorado, California, and Oregon—where legal markets have operated for a decade—self-reported use often exceeds 25%. Prohibition states across the South and Great Plains? Rates remain in single digits.

The gap underscores the patchwork nature of U.S. cannabis policy. Federal rescheduling to Schedule III, if finalized, wouldn't change state-level prohibition but could shift cultural attitudes in holdout regions. We'll be watching whether 2027 data shows consumption gains in newly legal states and whether the edibles trend continues to outpace smoking adoption.