31 June 6th-June 12th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Bud Over Budweisers Study shows daily weed use overtakes alcohol in U.S. BY CASSIE BRUCCI M ay was a historic month for the cannabis industry. Last month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced it will soon move to re-classify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, marking a seismic shift in the country’s notoriously strict drug policy. Another huge shift has happened more gradually. For the first time ever, daily marijuana use has surpassed daily alcohol use in the U.S., according to a Carnegie Mellon University study. Authored by CMU cannabis policy researcher Jonathan Caulkins, the study examined trends in alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption over 40 years. In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near- daily compared to 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers, according to an anal- ysis of national survey data from the Associated Press published May 22. By contrast, less than 1 million people said they used marijuana nearly every day in 1992. Those findings don’t surprise Gary Smith, co-founder of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association. Before the state legalized medical marijuana in 2010, advocates had long espoused the idea that cannabis was safer than alcohol. “This was sort of prophesized,” Smith said. Many do use weed for health purposes. Greta Brandt, president of The Flower Shop dispensaries across the Valley, said more and more of her customers use cannabis to help with overall physical and mental health. “There’s an interest in how (someone) can manage anxiety and stress during the day, versus grabbing a glass of wine at the end of the day,” Brandt said. Novelty factor But weed usage really boomed in Arizona when voters approved a 2020 ballot measure to legalize recreational use and sales. Currently, there are 24 states, plus Washington, D.C., with recreational mari- juana laws in effect. Another 17 states have medical usage laws in place. Weed’s rapid decriminalization has lent it a novelty factor, Smith suggested. The study appeared to confirm that, noting that “long-term trends in cannabis use in the U.S. parallel corresponding changes in cannabis policy.” “For the past 50 years, you really haven’t seen cannabis be widely available,” Smith said. “So it’s a fascinating new thing, and I’m not surprised that people gravitate to it.” Adding to the intrigue is the sheer number of cannabis products on the market. Walk into almost any dispensary, and you’ll be hit with a selection mirroring that of a convenience store: gummies, cookies, vapes and beverages line walls and shelves among old-fashioned flower bud. Brandt noted that many of these items are available in low dosages, making them less intimidating to newbies. “They’re gravitating towards the discrete products,” Brandt said, “some- thing that won’t smell in your purse.” By all accounts, legalizing medical and recreational marijuana has done wonders for Arizona’s economy, raking in close to $1.2 billion in sales last year. Still, there have been issues. The industry has fought labor battles while there have been prob- lems with the social equity licenses meant to funnel legal weed money to communi- ties historically harmed by past drug enforcement policies. There’s also been some concern about the long-term health effects of marijuana use. Dr. David A. Gorelick, a psychiatry professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told the Associated Press there’s research showing high- frequency users are more likely to become addicted to cannabis. Brandt said it’s important to maintain an “everything in moderation” mindset. “Overconsuming any drug is terrible,” she said. “But it’s still a safer bet, in my opinion, than the long-term consumption of alcohol.” A recent study found 17.7 million people reported daily or near-daily use of marijuana, 3 million more than say the same for alcohol. (Photo by O’Hara Shipe) | CANNABIS |
