Cannabis is now the most common microdosing drug in America
A national study found that cannabis is now the most commonly microdosed substance in the U.S., with 9.4% of adults reporting use, compared to lower rates for psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD. Researchers from UC San Diego highlighted that microdosing cannabis is often overlooked in wellness discussions and is frequently used for recreational purposes rather than structured health protocols.
A new study reveals cannabis has surpassed psychedelics as the most popular microdosing drug in America. Researchers analyzed survey data from 1,525 U.S. adults in late 2023, finding that 9.4%—around 24.1 million people—had tried microdosing cannabis at least once. This far exceeds usage rates for psilocybin mushrooms (5.3%), LSD (4.8%), and MDMA (2.2%), with current microdosing rates for cannabis at 3.3% compared to under 1% for psychedelics. The findings challenge the prevailing narrative that microdosing is primarily tied to psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin, which have been popularized in wellness and productivity circles. Dr. Kevin Yang, a resident physician at UC San Diego School of Medicine and lead author, noted that cannabis microdosing was nearly twice as common, suggesting broader public use beyond trend-driven discussions. Dr. Eric Leas, senior author and assistant professor at UC San Diego’s Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, emphasized that most people microdose cannabis recreationally to avoid strong intoxication rather than following structured health protocols. The study also uncovered a strong link between microdosing and mental health. Adults reporting poor mental health were significantly more likely to microdose cannabis, with 21% of this group having tried it. Researchers suggest many users may not even identify as microdosers, instead viewing it as a way to moderate drug effects rather than a deliberate wellness practice. Microdosing typically involves doses between one-fifth and one-twentieth of a recreational amount, aiming for subtle benefits like reduced anxiety or improved mood without psychoactive effects. The survey data, collected via Ipsos KnowledgePanel, reflects broader trends in drug use patterns, highlighting cannabis’s growing role in low-dose consumption habits across the U.S. The study’s authors caution that while microdosing is often discussed in wellness contexts, its real-world use is more varied and frequently recreational. This discrepancy underscores the need for further research into the motivations and health impacts of cannabis microdosing among the general population.
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