Marijuana Addiction Statistics for California

Table of Contents

Marijuana use has been a prevalent issue in California for decades, even before its legalization for recreational use in 2018. Here are some key statistics related to marijuana addiction in California that you need to know.

Key Takeaways:

  • From 2014 to 2017, the average annual prevalence of past-year marijuana use disorder among young adults aged 18 to 25 in California was 5.8%.
  • Between 2013 and 2017, 5.2% (or 158,000 individuals) of people aged 12 to 17 in California used marijuana for the first time in their lives. 
  • In 2017, 15% of individuals seeking treatment at publicly funded drug treatment centers in California identified marijuana as the primary problematic drug. 
  • In 2018, 17.7% of adults aged 18 and over in California reported using marijuana in the past 30 days, higher than the national average of 10.5%.
  • According to the 2018 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the main methods of marijuana use among adults aged 18 and older were smoking (58.2%), eating (15.9%), vaporizing (17.5%), dabbing (4.4%), drinking (1.2%), and other methods (2.8%). 
  • Between 2016 and 2020, there was a substantial 128% increase in calls to the California Poison Control System about cannabis exposure.

Adult Marijuana Use in California

Here are some statistics on Adult marijuana use in California:

we work with most major PPO insurance providers

request a callback 24/7

  • California Health Care Foundation’s (CHCF) substance use disorder report for the years 2018–2019 reports that marijuana was the most frequently used drug across all age categories. Individuals aged 18 to 25 were over twice as likely to report using marijuana in the previous year compared to teenagers aged 12 to 17 or adults aged 26 and above. 
  • From 2014 to 2017, the average annual prevalence of past-year marijuana use disorder among young adults aged 18 to 25 in California was 5.8%, equivalent to approximately 256,000 individuals, according to the SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Barometer Report 2020. 
  • According to data from the California Health Care Foundation for the years 2018 to 2019, the prevalence of marijuana use in the past year varied significantly across different age groups:
image3
  • According to the California Department of Public Health, 17.7% of adults aged 18 and over in California reported using marijuana in the past 30 days in 2018. This percentage exceeds the national average for adult marijuana use in the United States, which stands at 10.5%. Young adults aged 21-24 exhibit the highest rates of marijuana use in California.
  • According to the Marijuana’s Impact on California Report 2020, 36.3% of adults aged 18 to 25 in California reported using cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or marijuana in 2018.
  • From 2017 to 2018, marijuana use among individuals aged 26 years and older in California continued to exceed the national average, with rates of 10.39% compared to 8.25%, according to the National Marijuana Initiative’s Marijuana’s Impact on California Report 2020. 
  • The main ways marijuana is used among adults aged 18 and older in California who reported using it in the past 30 days, according to the 2018 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, is shown below: 
image 1
  • According to the California Health Interview Survey by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, recent cannabis use among young adults (18–25 years old) in California was reported in various forms: 81% smoked (joint, bong, pipe), 47% vaped, 43% used blunts, and 35% consumed it through eating or drinking. Additionally, 78% of young adults reported using more than one method.
  • In 2017, 15% of individuals seeking treatment at publicly funded drug treatment centers in California identified marijuana as the primary problematic drug, according to the California Department of Public Health.
  • California Department of Public Health reports that from 2016 to 2018, exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke rose by 85% among adults in California.

Teen Marijuana Use in California

Statistics about teen marijuana use in California include:

  • According to the California Department of Public Health’s 2020 Data Snapshot, there was a 128% increase in calls to the California Poison Control System regarding cannabis exposures between 2016 and 2020. In 2020, one-third of these calls involved children under six years old. 
  • CHCF’s 2022 report also mentions that the prevalence of marijuana use in the past year rose from 15% in 2014–15 to 20% in 2018–19 among individuals aged 12 and older. This increase coincided with the legalization of marijuana for Californians aged 21 and older in 2018. 
  • Among 11th graders in California from 2017 to 2019, alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used substances, as per CHCF’s 2022 data. 18.8% of 11th-graders reported using alcohol or marijuana four or more times in their lives. 
image
  • 15.5% of all students who used marijuana in the past 30 days were American Indians and Alaska Natives.
image 2
  • As per the CHCF’s 2022 report, from 2018 to 2019, 14.4% of Black individuals giving birth reported marijuana use during pregnancy. 
  • In 2019, 41% of marijuana treatment admissions in California were among individuals aged 12 to 17, according to the National Marijuana Initiative’s Marijuana’s Impact on California Report 2020.
  • From 2014 to 2017, the average yearly occurrence of recent marijuana use among youth aged 12 to 17 in California was 7.5%, equating to approximately 230,000 individuals, according to SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Barometer Report 2020.
  • According to the same report, 5.2% (or 158,000 individuals) of people aged 12 to 17 in California used marijuana for the first time in their lives between 2013 and 2017. 

Effects of Marijuana Use Statistics

Statistics about the effects of marijuana use include:

  • Fatality Analysis Reporting System reports that from 2013 to 2017, the proportion of California drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for marijuana increased from 18% to 22%. Marijuana is linked to a higher number of fatal automobile crashes compared to any other drug in California. 
  • Hundreds of Californians seek emergency room treatment annually due to marijuana ingestion. The highest rate of emergency room (ER) visits for marijuana poisoning is observed among adolescents at 20.3 per 100,000 residents as per California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s 2018 data. Young adults aged 20 to 24 and 25 to 29 have higher rates of marijuana-related ER visits compared to older adults. 
  • According to the National Marijuana Initiative’s Marijuana’s Impact on California Report 2020, emergency department visits and admissions related to marijuana use in California increased by 89% from 2016 (125,418 visits) to 2019 (236,954 visits).

Frequently Asked Questions

What Percentage of People in California Use Marijuana?

According to the California Health Care Foundation’s 2022 data, 20% of Californians aged 12 and older reported using marijuana in the past year.

How Much Revenue Does California Get From Marijuana?

As of the first quarter of 2024, California’s cannabis tax revenue totaled $259.9 million, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). 

Since January 2018, the state has generated over $6 billion in total cannabis tax revenue, including nearly $3.1 billion from cannabis excise tax, almost $2.4 billion from sales tax, and $501 million from cultivation tax. 

How Has Marijuana Legalization Affected California?

Following marijuana legalization, the cannabis industry has stimulated economic growth via businesses related to cultivation, distribution, retail, and ancillary services. Legalization has also led to a decrease in marijuana-related arrests and convictions. 

Data Sources 

1. https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SubstanceUseDisorderAlmanac2022.pdf

2. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Factsheet_Marijuana_Use_Among_CA_Adults-ADA.pdf

3. https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CAEmergencyDepartments2018.pdf

4. https://www.thenmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CA-MJ-IMPACT-REPORT-2020-FINAL-.pdf

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7861605/

6. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/California-BH-BarometerVolume5.pdf

7.https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Cannabis_in_California_2020%20Data%20Snapshot_ADA.pdf

8. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32302/1/California_Smoking_Landscape_June2020.pdf

Share Our Blog With Someone It Might Help!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Getting help doesn't have to be scary, we are here for you.

When you are ready to rid your body of the toxic substances, contact us. We can make it easier and safer for you.

Other articles you may be interested in: