Posted on 08/25/2026 1:03:04 PM PDT by Red Badger
Most people have tried it at least once. Smoking marijuana is a rite of passage almost as common as that first underage beer. Some grow out of it after high school or college. Others use it well into adulthood. There was also that first cigarette. You inhaled that first time and were pretty sure you were going to bring up a lung, but it was all about the "coolness" of it. Now, with the advent of legalized marijuana, a new poll shows that Americans have chosen what they want to light up.
On Monday, a new Gallup poll showed that an all-time high number of Americans say they smoke marijuana, yet an all-time low number of Americans are smoking cigarettes. The poll was conducted by phone by ReconMR from July 1-19, and randomly sampled 1,200 U.S. adults. In the survey, 17 percent of Americans said they use marijuana, a record matched from 2023. The number of Americans who said they smoke cigarettes was estimated to be around 11 percent. Other portions of the survey showed that 9 percent of those polled said they vape, and 4 percent use nicotine pouches. The number of people who smoke pot more than doubled from just 7 percent in 2013 to the current 17 percent.
The marijuana vs. cigarette numbers show the super-mixed message that has been sent over the last few decades. In the 50s and 60s, it was uncommon to see anyone not smoking. It was cool and glamorous, and just something people did. But in January of 1964, the Surgeon General came out with the first report on the dangers of smoking and health. Since that time, the number of people seen smoking not just in American life, but in movies and on television has dwindled to almost nothing. Try lighting up anywhere in public and see what happens.
However, the use of marijuana has skyrocketed in the past decade, rising an estimated 65.2 percent between 2015 and 2024. In that same time frame, 22 states legalized marijuana. Coincidence? Probably not. Some research also suggests that three in ten people who use marijuana suffer from cannabis use disorder, including cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which causes repeated and severe episodes of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain with long-term use. Use of marijuana during teenage years and young adulthood can also have negative effects on brain development in terms of attention, memory, and learning.
The survey gave a bit of an overview of other favorite vices of Americans as well. It showed that 49 percent of those surveyed were coffee drinkers, and 20 percent drink caffeinated soda daily. When it comes to diet, 5 percent said they are vegetarians, and just 2 percent are vegans. Legalized marijuana may also be contributing to the fact that Gen Z is consuming less alcohol than previous generations, although the survey showed that 54 percent of respondents said they drink alcohol.
With the average cost nationwide of a pack of cigarettes at $10.15 and the average cost of marijuana bought at a dispensary at $8.94, both depending on state taxes, it's easy to see where you get more bang for your buck.
Proponents of legalized marijuana will also tout revenue gained. But then there's that old saying: Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
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I’ve never tried either one, and I don’t recommend either one. I’m still happy and healthy. No residual urges for either.
...offer them bread and circuses and carry on with the agenda...
Yeah...............whut?................
The smart people bypass the multiple hassles of owning a pot shop and just open a doughnut shop next door. 😁
I wonder how many muslims smoke the ganja and how many have abortions. Just curious.
Psychosis is the inability to distinguish what is or is not real. Examples of psychotic symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized or incoherent thoughts or speech. From marijuana
Western Civilization would never have reached greatness if instead of emerging as an alcohol based peoples, it had emerged as a Cannabis based people.
It is interesting that in our decline, that alcohol and its social life and human interaction are ending because of new driving laws ending the inns and taverns, the cocktail parties, the long masculine and effective business lunch, the after work bonding parties, and the sexes mixing and dancing, while Cannabis is taking over as we zone out on a couch.
Gateway drug, psychological addiction, psychosis, makes everyone into a worthless ignorant bum.
Did I summarize it well?
—
I have two children, one 22 the other 25 (we started late) and I would MUCH rather have either use weed than drink booze or smoke cigarettes.
This is a classic case of “what is familiar” and “cultural bias.” Booze and tobacco I think should also stay legal, but they are IMO more dangerous.
You forgot harmless...
Often others mention 10th amendment issues, as to the federal government being involved with the legal status of drugs. And then others frequently talk about failed wars on drugs as a reason to legalize pot and other drugs.
Let’s Make A Dope Deal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6swlPoUHd1Y
I have tried both and recommend neither.
Why would and how could you have ‘residual’ urges for something you have never tried.
Asking for a friend.
lol... good times! And lets not forget the Lessons of Sister Mary Elephant!!
how many year until scientists “discover” that pot smoke isn’t good for your lungs either!
LMAO
I credit listening to Cheech and Chong as a kid, with me never wanting to try drugs.
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