New Poll Exposes Surprising Consensus On Marijuana's Safety Compared To Addictive Substances

As marijuana becomes more mainstream and the war on drugs is recognized as a failure, consensus around cannabis is also adapting.

According to a new national poll, conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult, which complements the association’s Healthy Minds Monthly poll, Americans believe that marijuana is safer and less addictive than cigarettes, vaping and alcohol.

While 64% consider cannabis as very or somewhat addictive, 87% agree that cigarettes are even more so. And so is technology, according to 75% of surveyed individuals.

Poll Key Takeaways

This poll was conducted April 20-22, 2023, among a sample of 2,201 adults. Results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

• Even though 84% of Americans agree that cigarettes are unsafe, 21% is using them daily;
• 75% of people believe that technology is more addictive than marijuana (64%);
• While about three in four people consider certain technology to be addictive, most think it’s safe (only 23% said it was unsafe);
• 47% believe that addictions are the result of personal weakness, while the remaining 53% disagree;
• Large majority 93% thinks that substance use disorders can be treated;
• Merely 58% are familiar with the life-saving opioid reversal drug naloxone or Narcan that FDA recently approved for over-the-counter sale; even a smaller percentage (35%) confirmed they would know where to find it in case of emergency. 

“In 2022, opioids killed more than 100,000 people,” said APA CEO and medical director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “While it is encouraging that most Americans see substance use disorder as a treatable medical condition, we can do more to ensure that more of us in our communities are aware of and can access naloxone, which saves lives.”

The APA is launching a public awareness initiative on addiction and substance use disorders that will last throughout the year, beginning this month with vaping, focusing on opioids later in the summer, alcohol in the winter, and technology next spring.

Photo: Benzinga edit with images by cottonbro studio, Elina Sazonova and Anna Shvets on Pexels