Routes of Marijuana Use - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 22 U.S. States and Two Territories, 2022.

Abstract

Access to and use of cannabis in the United States has increased as new product types emerge in the marketplace, and as additional states legalize its use for medical and nonmedical purposes. To tailor education messages for preventing adverse health effects of cannabis use, understanding the routes of use of these products in the general population is important. The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System included a newly revised optional marijuana module comprising questions on marijuana routes of use among adults aged ≥18 years who used marijuana during the past 30 days (current use). Twenty-two states and two territories administered the optional marijuana module in 2022. Weighted prevalences (with 95% CIs) of current and daily or near-daily marijuana use, as well as prevalence of each route of use, were reported overall and by demographic characteristics and, among women aged ≤49 years, by pregnancy status. Among the 15.3% of respondents who reported current marijuana use, smoking was the most frequent route (79.4%), followed by eating (41.6%), vaping (30.3%), and dabbing (inhaling heated concentrated cannabis) (14.6%). Vaping and dabbing were most prevalent among persons aged 18-24 years. Intervention measures intended for persons who smoke cannabis are important; however, understanding health outcomes associated with other routes of use might have substantial public benefit.