Cannabis use in US states where recreational consumption is legal is increasing, with the majority of users turning to the drug for health-related reasons, according to two new studies.
A survey of 13,000 residents aged 16 and over in states with legal recreational use, conducted by Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (CPPC), estimated that 39% have used the drug in the past month.
CPPC noted the figure is considerably higher than previous estimates, suggesting the US is rapidly approaching 100 million residents using cannabis at least monthly.
Separately, a Harris Poll of nearly 2,000 US adults aged 21 and over, conducted for Curaleaf, found a large majority — 91% — consume cannabis for health and wellness reasons.
Of those, 52% use it to relax, 49% to help with sleep, 44% to reduce stress, and 41% to reduce anxiety.
Some 75% said they would prefer holistic solutions to treat a medical problem over pharmaceuticals, with 62% saying they would rather use cannabis.
Additionally, 88% of those who have used cannabis as an alternative to and/or in addition to pharmaceutical treatments said it improved their overall well-being, while 86% said they would recommend it to a friend or family member for medical reasons.
