CBD OIL

Kaycha Labs, a cannabis lab testing company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has announced their participation in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Cannabis Quality Assurance Program (CannaQAP).

The NIST is an organization under the U.S. Department of Commerce that promotes innovation through standards, technology and advancing science. The NIST’s CannaQAP platform works with cannabis labs to help improve competence in analytical science and standardization.

The program requires participating labs to conduct exercises that help inform the NIST about current industry standards and capabilities for hemp and cannabis testing. One of the goals of the program is aiding in the design and characterization of cannabis reference materials.

Kaycha Labs took part in two exercises for the CannaQAP study. Exercise 1 included testing for potency with 17 cannabinoids in hemp oil and Exercise 2 included potency, heavy metals and moisture content testing in plant materials.

Chris Martinez, president of Kaycha Labs, says the program can benefit the entire industry when it comes to regulatory compliance testing. “As a leading cannabis lab company with a network of labs in multiple states, it is imperative we demonstrate that our labs apply compliant and consistent testing methodologies,” says Martinez. “Assuring all industry participants, including State and Federal government regulators, that precise and consistent testing data is the norm will benefit the entire industry.”

Kaycha Labs, while based in Fort Lauderdale, actually has cannabis testing labs in California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee, making them an ideal candidate for CannaQAP.

Exercise 1 has been completed in its entirety and published here. Exercise 2 has completed the participation and data submission legs of the study and NIST is preparing it for publication. On their website, it says that announcements about their upcoming Exercise 3 are coming soon.

Despite a busy year on the state level and multiple bills announced and introduced into Congress, not much legislative progress has been made on federal cannabis policy in 2021. 

Late last month, the House took yet another preliminary step towards the regulation of financial services for cannabis by including banking provisions in a limited budget proposal approved by a full floor vote.

The “minibus” package, which includes appropriations for important government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Social Security Administration, also contains a section preventing federal dollars from being used to penalize financial institutions for doing business with cannabis companies.

Including the standalone Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which passed the House twice on its own and once as part of an October 2020 COVID relief bill, the minibus marks the fourth time the full House of Representatives has approved cannabis banking since 2019. 

Will the fourth time be the charm for financial services and cannabis? Could the acceptance of standalone banking regulations sap momentum for full scale reform? 

Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary spoke with prominent associations in the industry to answer these questions and determine whether or not banking protections have a real chance of passing this year.

Comparing the minibus cannabis regulations to its predecessors

Experts and analysts have pointed out that the banking protections included in the spending package aren’t as comprehensive as the SAFE Banking Act. And unlike the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act recently announced by Sens. Booker and Wyden, it doesn’t address the legal standing of the plant.

For cannabis advocates, the smaller focus is less desirable than wholesale cannabis reform but may indicate the issue still matters to legislators.

“While limited in scope, appropriations riders are important opportunities for Congress to demonstrate its priorities and intent. They are often precursors to comprehensive reform legislation,” said Bo Bryant, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the U.S. Cannabis Council, via email.

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, agreed: “I believe lawmakers understand the importance of access to capital and want a solution that actually addresses the issue.”

The narrower provisions could also make the language more likely to make it through the more conservative Senate, which has to finalize the budget before it’s sent to President Biden for approval. 

“The House has spoken on this issue conclusively at this point, but in terms of the Senate, I don’t really see strong opposition to keeping it [cannabis banking protection] in the final bill considering the standalone legislation has bipartisan support,” said Morgan Fox, Media Relations Director at the National Cannabis Industry Association. 

Reconciling standalone banking with descheduling 

The limited nature of the budget’s provisions on cannabis banking also raise another concern: accepting financial reform or pushing for full legalization. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive, but Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) seemed to raise the issue at the press conference unveiling his new reform bill, promising to “do everything I can to stop an easy banking bill that’s going to allow all these corporations to make a lot more money on this as opposed to focusing on the restorative justice aspects.” 

Booker later backtracked, expressing support for the SAFE Banking Act, but his original line of thinking – that financial reform alone would detract from efforts to pass criminal justice changes – isn’t new.

Industry insiders pushed back against the idea that pursuing banking reform and full-scale federal legalization is an either/or proposition.

“I’m deeply troubled by the idea that it’s one or the other,” said Littlejohn. “This idea that SAFE Banking is about corporate cannabis is preposterous. Big cannabis doesn’t need SAFE. In fact, cash strapped small and minority owned businesses help big cannabis companies maintain their competitive advantage.”

“Every time an incremental bill is passed it becomes easier for lawmakers on the fence to feel comfortable voting in favor of farther-reaching legislation,” agreed Fox, who called the idea that passing SAFE Banking would detract from criminal justice reform “a common misconception.”

“We need banking reform and cannabis legalization,” added Bryant. “Small businesses, particularly minority-owned ones, urgently need access to basic banking services — right now.”

The continued focus on federal cannabis reform is inarguably a good sign. But with the Senate in recess until September and the House expected to end its break early to vote on trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending, the fate of legislation on cannabis banking – or any other reform – is still mostly up in the air.

 

 

Despite a busy year on the state level and multiple bills announced and introduced into Congress, not much legislative progress has been made on federal cannabis policy in 2021. 

Late last month, the House took yet another preliminary step towards the regulation of financial services for cannabis by including banking provisions in a limited budget proposal approved by a full floor vote.

The “minibus” package, which includes appropriations for important government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Social Security Administration, also contains a section preventing federal dollars from being used to penalize financial institutions for doing business with cannabis companies.

Including the standalone Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which passed the House twice on its own and once as part of an October 2020 COVID relief bill, the minibus marks the fourth time the full House of Representatives has approved cannabis banking since 2019. 

Will the fourth time be the charm for financial services and cannabis? Could the acceptance of standalone banking regulations sap momentum for full scale reform? 

Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary spoke with prominent associations in the industry to answer these questions and determine whether or not banking protections have a real chance of passing this year.

Comparing the minibus cannabis regulations to its predecessors

Experts and analysts have pointed out that the banking protections included in the spending package aren’t as comprehensive as the SAFE Banking Act. And unlike the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act recently announced by Sens. Booker and Wyden, it doesn’t address the legal standing of the plant.

For cannabis advocates, the smaller focus is less desirable than wholesale cannabis reform but may indicate the issue still matters to legislators.

“While limited in scope, appropriations riders are important opportunities for Congress to demonstrate its priorities and intent. They are often precursors to comprehensive reform legislation,” said Bo Bryant, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the U.S. Cannabis Council, via email.

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, agreed: “I believe lawmakers understand the importance of access to capital and want a solution that actually addresses the issue.”

The narrower provisions could also make the language more likely to make it through the more conservative Senate, which has to finalize the budget before it’s sent to President Biden for approval. 

“The House has spoken on this issue conclusively at this point, but in terms of the Senate, I don’t really see strong opposition to keeping it [cannabis banking protection] in the final bill considering the standalone legislation has bipartisan support,” said Morgan Fox, Media Relations Director at the National Cannabis Industry Association. 

Reconciling standalone banking with descheduling 

The limited nature of the budget’s provisions on cannabis banking also raise another concern: accepting financial reform or pushing for full legalization. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive, but Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) seemed to raise the issue at the press conference unveiling his new reform bill, promising to “do everything I can to stop an easy banking bill that’s going to allow all these corporations to make a lot more money on this as opposed to focusing on the restorative justice aspects.” 

Booker later backtracked, expressing support for the SAFE Banking Act, but his original line of thinking – that financial reform alone would detract from efforts to pass criminal justice changes – isn’t new.

Industry insiders pushed back against the idea that pursuing banking reform and full-scale federal legalization is an either/or proposition.

“I’m deeply troubled by the idea that it’s one or the other,” said Littlejohn. “This idea that SAFE Banking is about corporate cannabis is preposterous. Big cannabis doesn’t need SAFE. In fact, cash strapped small and minority owned businesses help big cannabis companies maintain their competitive advantage.”

“Every time an incremental bill is passed it becomes easier for lawmakers on the fence to feel comfortable voting in favor of farther-reaching legislation,” agreed Fox, who called the idea that passing SAFE Banking would detract from criminal justice reform “a common misconception.”

“We need banking reform and cannabis legalization,” added Bryant. “Small businesses, particularly minority-owned ones, urgently need access to basic banking services — right now.”

The continued focus on federal cannabis reform is inarguably a good sign. But with the Senate in recess until September and the House expected to end its break early to vote on trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending, the fate of legislation on cannabis banking – or any other reform – is still mostly up in the air.

 

 

Despite a busy year on the state level and multiple bills announced and introduced into Congress, not much legislative progress has been made on federal cannabis policy in 2021. 

Late last month, the House took yet another preliminary step towards the regulation of financial services for cannabis by including banking provisions in a limited budget proposal approved by a full floor vote.

The “minibus” package, which includes appropriations for important government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Social Security Administration, also contains a section preventing federal dollars from being used to penalize financial institutions for doing business with cannabis companies.

Including the standalone Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which passed the House twice on its own and once as part of an October 2020 COVID relief bill, the minibus marks the fourth time the full House of Representatives has approved cannabis banking since 2019. 

Will the fourth time be the charm for financial services and cannabis? Could the acceptance of standalone banking regulations sap momentum for full scale reform? 

Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary spoke with prominent associations in the industry to answer these questions and determine whether or not banking protections have a real chance of passing this year.

Comparing the minibus cannabis regulations to its predecessors

Experts and analysts have pointed out that the banking protections included in the spending package aren’t as comprehensive as the SAFE Banking Act. And unlike the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act recently announced by Sens. Booker and Wyden, it doesn’t address the legal standing of the plant.

For cannabis advocates, the smaller focus is less desirable than wholesale cannabis reform but may indicate the issue still matters to legislators.

“While limited in scope, appropriations riders are important opportunities for Congress to demonstrate its priorities and intent. They are often precursors to comprehensive reform legislation,” said Bo Bryant, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the U.S. Cannabis Council, via email.

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, agreed: “I believe lawmakers understand the importance of access to capital and want a solution that actually addresses the issue.”

The narrower provisions could also make the language more likely to make it through the more conservative Senate, which has to finalize the budget before it’s sent to President Biden for approval. 

“The House has spoken on this issue conclusively at this point, but in terms of the Senate, I don’t really see strong opposition to keeping it [cannabis banking protection] in the final bill considering the standalone legislation has bipartisan support,” said Morgan Fox, Media Relations Director at the National Cannabis Industry Association. 

Reconciling standalone banking with descheduling 

The limited nature of the budget’s provisions on cannabis banking also raise another concern: accepting financial reform or pushing for full legalization. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive, but Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) seemed to raise the issue at the press conference unveiling his new reform bill, promising to “do everything I can to stop an easy banking bill that’s going to allow all these corporations to make a lot more money on this as opposed to focusing on the restorative justice aspects.” 

Booker later backtracked, expressing support for the SAFE Banking Act, but his original line of thinking – that financial reform alone would detract from efforts to pass criminal justice changes – isn’t new.

Industry insiders pushed back against the idea that pursuing banking reform and full-scale federal legalization is an either/or proposition.

“I’m deeply troubled by the idea that it’s one or the other,” said Littlejohn. “This idea that SAFE Banking is about corporate cannabis is preposterous. Big cannabis doesn’t need SAFE. In fact, cash strapped small and minority owned businesses help big cannabis companies maintain their competitive advantage.”

“Every time an incremental bill is passed it becomes easier for lawmakers on the fence to feel comfortable voting in favor of farther-reaching legislation,” agreed Fox, who called the idea that passing SAFE Banking would detract from criminal justice reform “a common misconception.”

“We need banking reform and cannabis legalization,” added Bryant. “Small businesses, particularly minority-owned ones, urgently need access to basic banking services — right now.”

The continued focus on federal cannabis reform is inarguably a good sign. But with the Senate in recess until September and the House expected to end its break early to vote on trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending, the fate of legislation on cannabis banking – or any other reform – is still mostly up in the air.

 

 

Despite a busy year on the state level and multiple bills announced and introduced into Congress, not much legislative progress has been made on federal cannabis policy in 2021. 

Late last month, the House took yet another preliminary step towards the regulation of financial services for cannabis by including banking provisions in a limited budget proposal approved by a full floor vote.

The “minibus” package, which includes appropriations for important government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Social Security Administration, also contains a section preventing federal dollars from being used to penalize financial institutions for doing business with cannabis companies.

Including the standalone Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which passed the House twice on its own and once as part of an October 2020 COVID relief bill, the minibus marks the fourth time the full House of Representatives has approved cannabis banking since 2019. 

Will the fourth time be the charm for financial services and cannabis? Could the acceptance of standalone banking regulations sap momentum for full scale reform? 

Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary spoke with prominent associations in the industry to answer these questions and determine whether or not banking protections have a real chance of passing this year.

Comparing the minibus cannabis regulations to its predecessors

Experts and analysts have pointed out that the banking protections included in the spending package aren’t as comprehensive as the SAFE Banking Act. And unlike the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act recently announced by Sens. Booker and Wyden, it doesn’t address the legal standing of the plant.

For cannabis advocates, the smaller focus is less desirable than wholesale cannabis reform but may indicate the issue still matters to legislators.

“While limited in scope, appropriations riders are important opportunities for Congress to demonstrate its priorities and intent. They are often precursors to comprehensive reform legislation,” said Bo Bryant, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the U.S. Cannabis Council, via email.

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, agreed: “I believe lawmakers understand the importance of access to capital and want a solution that actually addresses the issue.”

The narrower provisions could also make the language more likely to make it through the more conservative Senate, which has to finalize the budget before it’s sent to President Biden for approval. 

“The House has spoken on this issue conclusively at this point, but in terms of the Senate, I don’t really see strong opposition to keeping it [cannabis banking protection] in the final bill considering the standalone legislation has bipartisan support,” said Morgan Fox, Media Relations Director at the National Cannabis Industry Association. 

Reconciling standalone banking with descheduling 

The limited nature of the budget’s provisions on cannabis banking also raise another concern: accepting financial reform or pushing for full legalization. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive, but Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) seemed to raise the issue at the press conference unveiling his new reform bill, promising to “do everything I can to stop an easy banking bill that’s going to allow all these corporations to make a lot more money on this as opposed to focusing on the restorative justice aspects.” 

Booker later backtracked, expressing support for the SAFE Banking Act, but his original line of thinking – that financial reform alone would detract from efforts to pass criminal justice changes – isn’t new.

Industry insiders pushed back against the idea that pursuing banking reform and full-scale federal legalization is an either/or proposition.

“I’m deeply troubled by the idea that it’s one or the other,” said Littlejohn. “This idea that SAFE Banking is about corporate cannabis is preposterous. Big cannabis doesn’t need SAFE. In fact, cash strapped small and minority owned businesses help big cannabis companies maintain their competitive advantage.”

“Every time an incremental bill is passed it becomes easier for lawmakers on the fence to feel comfortable voting in favor of farther-reaching legislation,” agreed Fox, who called the idea that passing SAFE Banking would detract from criminal justice reform “a common misconception.”

“We need banking reform and cannabis legalization,” added Bryant. “Small businesses, particularly minority-owned ones, urgently need access to basic banking services — right now.”

The continued focus on federal cannabis reform is inarguably a good sign. But with the Senate in recess until September and the House expected to end its break early to vote on trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending, the fate of legislation on cannabis banking – or any other reform – is still mostly up in the air.

 

 

Despite a busy year on the state level and multiple bills announced and introduced into Congress, not much legislative progress has been made on federal cannabis policy in 2021. 

Late last month, the House took yet another preliminary step towards the regulation of financial services for cannabis by including banking provisions in a limited budget proposal approved by a full floor vote.

The “minibus” package, which includes appropriations for important government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Social Security Administration, also contains a section preventing federal dollars from being used to penalize financial institutions for doing business with cannabis companies.

Including the standalone Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which passed the House twice on its own and once as part of an October 2020 COVID relief bill, the minibus marks the fourth time the full House of Representatives has approved cannabis banking since 2019. 

Will the fourth time be the charm for financial services and cannabis? Could the acceptance of standalone banking regulations sap momentum for full scale reform? 

Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary spoke with prominent associations in the industry to answer these questions and determine whether or not banking protections have a real chance of passing this year.

Comparing the minibus cannabis regulations to its predecessors

Experts and analysts have pointed out that the banking protections included in the spending package aren’t as comprehensive as the SAFE Banking Act. And unlike the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act recently announced by Sens. Booker and Wyden, it doesn’t address the legal standing of the plant.

For cannabis advocates, the smaller focus is less desirable than wholesale cannabis reform but may indicate the issue still matters to legislators.

“While limited in scope, appropriations riders are important opportunities for Congress to demonstrate its priorities and intent. They are often precursors to comprehensive reform legislation,” said Bo Bryant, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the U.S. Cannabis Council, via email.

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, agreed: “I believe lawmakers understand the importance of access to capital and want a solution that actually addresses the issue.”

The narrower provisions could also make the language more likely to make it through the more conservative Senate, which has to finalize the budget before it’s sent to President Biden for approval. 

“The House has spoken on this issue conclusively at this point, but in terms of the Senate, I don’t really see strong opposition to keeping it [cannabis banking protection] in the final bill considering the standalone legislation has bipartisan support,” said Morgan Fox, Media Relations Director at the National Cannabis Industry Association. 

Reconciling standalone banking with descheduling 

The limited nature of the budget’s provisions on cannabis banking also raise another concern: accepting financial reform or pushing for full legalization. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive, but Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) seemed to raise the issue at the press conference unveiling his new reform bill, promising to “do everything I can to stop an easy banking bill that’s going to allow all these corporations to make a lot more money on this as opposed to focusing on the restorative justice aspects.” 

Booker later backtracked, expressing support for the SAFE Banking Act, but his original line of thinking – that financial reform alone would detract from efforts to pass criminal justice changes – isn’t new.

Industry insiders pushed back against the idea that pursuing banking reform and full-scale federal legalization is an either/or proposition.

“I’m deeply troubled by the idea that it’s one or the other,” said Littlejohn. “This idea that SAFE Banking is about corporate cannabis is preposterous. Big cannabis doesn’t need SAFE. In fact, cash strapped small and minority owned businesses help big cannabis companies maintain their competitive advantage.”

“Every time an incremental bill is passed it becomes easier for lawmakers on the fence to feel comfortable voting in favor of farther-reaching legislation,” agreed Fox, who called the idea that passing SAFE Banking would detract from criminal justice reform “a common misconception.”

“We need banking reform and cannabis legalization,” added Bryant. “Small businesses, particularly minority-owned ones, urgently need access to basic banking services — right now.”

The continued focus on federal cannabis reform is inarguably a good sign. But with the Senate in recess until September and the House expected to end its break early to vote on trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending, the fate of legislation on cannabis banking – or any other reform – is still mostly up in the air.

 

 

Change control, when it comes to quality management systems in manufacturing, processing and producing products such as cannabis edibles or vape pens, is a process where changes to a product or production line are introduced in a controlled and coordinated manner. The purpose of change control process management is to reduce the possibility of unneeded changes disrupting a system, introducing errors or increasing costs unnecessarily.

ASTM International, the international standards development organization, is developing a new standard guide that will cover change control process management for the cannabis and hemp market. The guide is being developed through the D37 cannabis committee.

The WK77590 guide will establish a standardized method for change control process management for cannabis companies so that they can document and track important decisions in manufacturing and quality systems.

For example, an edibles manufacturer would utilize change control process management if they want to use a different type of processing equipment or introduce a new shape or design of their product. Without change control process management, that edibles producer might switch to a new piece of processing equipment without knowing that it requires more energy or uses different raw materials, thus making production unexpectedly more expensive.

While that’s a very cursory example, the premise is simple: Before you undergo a change to your process, plan it out, analyze it, review it, test it out, implement it and make sure it works.

Change control process management can often be summarized in six steps:

1. Plan/Scope
2. Assess/Analyze
3. Review/Approval
4. Build/Test
5. Implement
6. Close

Maribel Colón, quality assurance consultant and vice chair of the ASTM subcommittee on cannabis quality management systems, says producers and testing labs will benefit the most from the guide. “As the cannabis industry grows, the quality, expectations, and control challenges grow within,” says Colón. “The creation and implementation of this standard guide will increase cannabis business efficiency and minimize risk, time, and potential cost of poorly managed changes.”

According to a press release, ASTM International is open to collaboration on this as well. Specifically, they are looking for professionals with change control who might be interested in helping advance and develop this guide.

Michigan’s total cannabis sales had yet another record-breaking month, topping $171 million in July, according to a monthly data report released from the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MMRA).

The data shows that $42.7 million of those sales came from medical cannabis, while $128.3 million came from adult-use.

July cannabis sales are up about 15% from June, which reported $41.6 million in medical sales and $107.3 million in adult-use, totaling over $148.9 million.

Michigan’s medical cannabis sales showed a slight decrease from July 2020, which reported $52.1 million; however, adult-use sales have more than doubled since last year, increasing from $57.4 million to $128.3 million.

Cannabis flower dominated both markets last month, making up over $21.1 million in medical sales and $63.5 million in recreational sales. Vape cartridges were the second-highest product sold, totaling over $10.8 million for medical cannabis and over $26.3 million for adult-use.

Edibles were third in line for the record-breaking month, generating $4.6 million in medical sales and $18.4 million in recreational sales. 

Flower, vape cartridges and edibles mostly made up Michigan’s June medical and adult-use cannabis sales as well, with flower being the highest-selling product and vape cartridges and edibles following.

And the state’s cannabis industry produced $23 million in tax revenue last month; $10.2 million in sales taxes and $12.8 million in 10% excise tax, which the state will use towards schools, counties, roads and municipalities, according to a tweet from David Harns, MMRA public relations manager.

As of July 31, Michigan’s total medical cannabis sales to date have reached over $1 billion, and adult-use has topped $1.2 billion, according to the MMRA’s report.

 

The percentage of U.S. adults who have tried cannabis is the highest it has ever been.

As normalization continues to spread, 49% of Americans 18 years and older said they have tried cannabis—a 4% increase from 2019 and 2017—according to results from Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits poll conducted July 6-21.

Meanwhile, the Gallup Poll found 12% of U.S. adults answered yes when asked: “Do you, yourself, smoke marijuana?” That rate has remained unchanged—ranging between 11% and 13%—since 2015. Other popular forms to use cannabis, such as edibles, was not part of the poll.

Trends also touched on cannabis use for different generations, genders, religiosities, political affiliations and levels of education.

“More than 50 years ago, just 4% said they had tried the drug, but that percentage surpassed 20% in 1977, 30% in 1985 and 40% in 2015,” Gallup News reported in a summary of the poll. “The increase in the proportion of U.S. adults who have tried marijuana mainly reflects millennials replacing older traditionalists in the U.S. adult population.”

Only 19% of U.S. adults born before 1945, whom Gallup refers to as “traditionalists,” said they have tried cannabis. Generational experimentation among other birth cohorts is near identical, with 51% of millennials, 49% of Generation Xers and 50% of baby boomers saying they’ve used cannabis. The generational figure for baby boomers has gone unchanged from the 1980s, according to Gallup.

Gallup does not yet have sufficient data to provide reliable estimates for Generation Z, the oldest of whom are 24 years old now.

Combined data from 2015-2021 reveals smoking cannabis is most common among young adults, as millennials (20%) are twice as likely to say they consume cannabis in that form as Gen Xers (11%) and baby boomers (9%), while few traditionalists (1%) said they currently smoke the plant’s flower.

“These age differences, which have been consistent in Gallup’s polling, indicate that, at least historically, people tend to try marijuana at a younger age but as they get older, most no longer continue smoking it,” Gallup News reported.

Beyond age difference, Gallup also found the following trends among U.S. adults:

• Men (16%) are more likely than women (9%) to smoke cannabis.
• Religious service attendance has an inverse relationship with cannabis use: 3% of Americans who attend weekly services and 6% who attend monthly services said they smoke cannabis, while 19% who seldom or never attend said they do.
• 21% of political liberals currently use cannabis, compared with 6% of conservatives.
• The rate of cannabis use is 5% among those with postgraduate education, compared with 14% of those with four-year college degrees or less.

“The percentage of Americans who have tried marijuana has steadily climbed in recent decades,” Gallup News reported in its summary. “Soon it should reach 50%, but it may not get much higher than that given the rates of experimentation have been steady around 50% in Gen Xers and among baby boomers. Half of millennials have also tried marijuana, and with many in that group approaching middle age, that proportion seems unlikely to increase in future years.”

The percentage of U.S. adults who have tried cannabis is the highest it has ever been.

As normalization continues to spread, 49% of Americans 18 years and older said they have tried cannabis—a 4% increase from 2019 and 2017—according to results from Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits poll conducted July 6-21.

Meanwhile, the Gallup Poll found 12% of U.S. adults answered yes when asked: “Do you, yourself, smoke marijuana?” That rate has remained unchanged—ranging between 11% and 13%—since 2015. Other popular forms to use cannabis, such as edibles, was not part of the poll.

Trends also touched on cannabis use for different generations, genders, religiosities, political affiliations and levels of education.

“More than 50 years ago, just 4% said they had tried the drug, but that percentage surpassed 20% in 1977, 30% in 1985 and 40% in 2015,” Gallup News reported in a summary of the poll. “The increase in the proportion of U.S. adults who have tried marijuana mainly reflects millennials replacing older traditionalists in the U.S. adult population.”

Only 19% of U.S. adults born before 1945, whom Gallup refers to as “traditionalists,” said they have tried cannabis. Generational experimentation among other birth cohorts is near identical, with 51% of millennials, 49% of Generation Xers and 50% of baby boomers saying they’ve used cannabis. The generational figure for baby boomers has gone unchanged from the 1980s, according to Gallup.

Gallup does not yet have sufficient data to provide reliable estimates for Generation Z, the oldest of whom are 24 years old now.

Combined data from 2015-2021 reveals smoking cannabis is most common among young adults, as millennials (20%) are twice as likely to say they consume cannabis in that form as Gen Xers (11%) and baby boomers (9%), while few traditionalists (1%) said they currently smoke the plant’s flower.

“These age differences, which have been consistent in Gallup’s polling, indicate that, at least historically, people tend to try marijuana at a younger age but as they get older, most no longer continue smoking it,” Gallup News reported.

Beyond age difference, Gallup also found the following trends among U.S. adults:

• Men (16%) are more likely than women (9%) to smoke cannabis.
• Religious service attendance has an inverse relationship with cannabis use: 3% of Americans who attend weekly services and 6% who attend monthly services said they smoke cannabis, while 19% who seldom or never attend said they do.
• 21% of political liberals currently use cannabis, compared with 6% of conservatives.
• The rate of cannabis use is 5% among those with postgraduate education, compared with 14% of those with four-year college degrees or less.

“The percentage of Americans who have tried marijuana has steadily climbed in recent decades,” Gallup News reported in its summary. “Soon it should reach 50%, but it may not get much higher than that given the rates of experimentation have been steady around 50% in Gen Xers and among baby boomers. Half of millennials have also tried marijuana, and with many in that group approaching middle age, that proportion seems unlikely to increase in future years.”