Updated
Updated · health.yahoo.com · Aug 21
U.S. Cannabis Use Disorder Climbs to 9.3% of Men and 5.6% of Women
Updated
Updated · health.yahoo.com · Aug 21

U.S. Cannabis Use Disorder Climbs to 9.3% of Men and 5.6% of Women

3 articles · Updated · health.yahoo.com · Aug 21

Summary

  • A JAMA Psychiatry study of more than 180,000 U.S. adults found cannabis use disorder rose between 2021 and 2024, reaching 9.3% among men and 5.6% among women.
  • Moderate-to-severe cases also increased—to 4.1% for men from 3.1% and to 2.5% for women from 1.7%—with the sharpest gains among middle-aged and older adults.
  • Researchers linked the rise to stronger high-THC products, wider availability and falling perceptions of harm as cannabis becomes more socially accepted and legal in more settings.
  • About 36% of male cannabis users met CUD criteria in 2024, underscoring calls for routine screening, public education and treatment rather than stigma.

Insights

As modern cannabis reaches unprecedented THC levels, where is the hidden line between casual relaxation and a debilitating chemical dependency?
Could the widespread normalization of legal marijuana be masking a silent epidemic of severe withdrawal and mental health crises among everyday users?