Americans have come a long way from our 1930’s Reefer Madness and our 1950’s Marlboro Man.
First Time: More Americans Smoke Marijuana than Cigarettes
For the first time in our nation’s history, more Americans are smoking marijuana than tobacco. Believe it or not, in the 1950s about half (45%) of adults reported as tobacco smokers - the same time the Marlboro Man began promoting filtered cigarettes. Prior to the 1950’s branding, filtered cigarettes were marketed to only women and therefore were considered too feminine for the male tobacco markets.
45% - reported tobacco smokers in 1950
11% - reported tobacco smokers in 2022
16% - reported marijuana smokers in 2022
48% - reported having tried marijuana
Alcohol: Remains America’s Most Preferred Intoxicant
Despite the historical growth of both medical and adult-use cannabis, the number one recreational drug of choice is alcohol.
67% - reported drinking alcohol in 2022
Bloomberg: Magic Mushrooms and Legal Psychedelics
Did you know that there are over 50 publicly traded psychedelic companies on the US Exchanges? With all the news about medical cannabis, it’s easy to miss. However, the latest results may surprise you.
From Johnson & Johnson to startups, some now suggest that the market for psychedelics “may outpace the legal US cannabis market.”
These compounds can heal. Psychedelics have shown promise treating conditions as diverse as alcoholism, eating disorders, and migraines. A small February study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology by researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that psilocybin-assisted therapy relieved symptoms of depression for at least a year in 75% of participants and effectively eliminated the symptoms in more than half of them during the study period.
Learn more about the latest trends in Psychedelic medicine and research.
Learn more at Bloomberg Businessweek.