In 1996 California became the first US state to legalize medical marijuana use. Fast forward 17 years and there are 37 states and the District of Columbia with legal medical cannabis programs, the most recent being Mississippi with Gov. Tate Reeves signing the legislation in Feb. 2022. Recreational or adult-use cannabis has been approved in D.C. and 21 states.
How much has medical marijuana usage increased over these years, considering this legalization progress?
Significantly, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. ”The prevalence of US residents using cannabis for medical purposes increased significantly from 1.2% in 2013-2014 to 2.5% in 2019-2020,” the study authors wrote, adding that this increase makes the average annual percentage of 12.9%.
Study Highlights
The research relied on data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in the …