Recent research has highlighted potential mental health risks associated with high-potency cannabis. Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical contributor for Fox News, stresses that increased THC levels can lead to addiction and mental health problems, notably in younger individuals. He points out that claims of cannabis alleviating anxiety and depression may lead to more frequent ER visits.
Marijuana has become the most frequently used daily drug in the U.S., surpassing smoking and alcohol consumption. Data from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) show that approximately 21.4 million Americans use marijuana daily or almost daily. This number is higher than both cigarette smokers and alcohol consumers, who number at 19.9 million and 17.2 million, respectively.
The survey characterizes daily use as consuming marijuana on more than 300 days a year, while daily cigarette smokers are those who smoke on every day of the past month. From 2022 to 2025, daily marijuana use increased by 3.7 million, climbing from 17.7 million to 21.4 million users. Primarily, this rise involves adults over the age of 26 rather than teenagers.
Overall, alcohol consumption remains the most common substance use, with about 129 million people drinking in the past month compared to 43.8 million marijuana users. However, general marijuana use has grown from 13.2% to 15.1% between 2021 and 2025, whereas tobacco use has fallen.
A report by the workplace mental health platform Modern Health indicates that more employees are using substances like THC to manage stress. A 2026 survey of 1,000 full-time workers found that 63% practice self-medication after work hours, with 52% doing so while at work. Among Gen Z workers, THC use after work surpasses alcohol, with 59% using marijuana products compared to 50% drinking alcohol. Around 51% of this group use THC during the workday.
Dr. Siegel describes the SAMHSA data as alarming, noting that the exaggerated claims surrounding marijuana benefits have overshadowed the mental health risks. “Greater attention is needed on the rising THC content,” he argues, linking it to impaired mental abilities and increased involvement in fatal motor vehicle accidents. Siegel believes this trend is partly due to a lack of awareness about marijuana’s dangers compared to the increasing awareness of the risks associated with cigarettes and alcohol.
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