American Cannabis Consumer Alliance
There is no cannabis industry without consumers.
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Consumer Education • Policy Advocacy • Evidence-Based • Non-Industry Voice • Fighting Misinformation • Consumer Education • Policy Advocacy • Evidence-Based • Non-Industry Voice • Fighting Misinformation • Consumer Education • Policy Advocacy • Evidence-Based • Non-Industry Voice • Fighting Misinformation •
Why We Exist
We are not the industry. We are the people who use cannabis legally, responsibly, and deserve policies built on evidence — not fear.
Bad cannabis policy gets made when misinformation fills the vacuum. We put data in the room — from poison centers, peer-reviewed science, and federal surveys.
When legislators move against consumers, we mobilize. Our network of informed advocates shows up in hearing rooms, inboxes, and at the ballot box.
Who Consumes Cannabis
The stereotype of the young, counter-culture cannabis user is decades out of date. Today's consumers are veterans, nurses, retirees, parents, and professionals. They vote, they pay taxes, and they deserve policy built on facts — not stigma.
Cannabis use among adults 50–64 has reached nearly 1 in 5. Among seniors 65 and older in legal states, 78% define their use as medical — primarily for pain, sleep, anxiety, and depression. Use among this group has more than doubled in recent years.
19% of adults 50–64 are current consumers American Journal of Preventive Medicine / NORML, 2025In 2023, 20 states implemented programs to facilitate veterans' access to medical cannabis for PTSD and chronic pain. Research shows veterans report meaningful improvements in pain management, sleep quality, and quality of life — often reducing or eliminating opioid use.
Top use case: PTSD, chronic pain, and sleep AlphaRoot / Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient ProgramMore than 1 in 3 women over 21 now consume cannabis. Women are the fastest-growing segment of the consumer base, driven largely by therapeutic use — stress relief, pain management, and sleep. For the first time in 2023, Gen Z women reported higher past-year use than Gen Z men.
37% of American women 21+ consume cannabis Harris Poll / NIDA, 2023Adults 26 and older now account for 21.7% past-year use — up from 17.3% in 2021. This group is the most rapidly growing in absolute terms, as legalization has reduced stigma and opened access to consumers who never engaged with the unregulated market.
21.7% of adults 26+ used cannabis in the past year NSDUH, 2024More than 5 million Americans are registered medical cannabis patients. The top three qualifying conditions are chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD. Studies show significant improvement in quality of life — one study found only 12.9% of new patients reported good quality of life before treatment, rising to 69.9% at six months.
5M+ registered medical patients nationwide AlphaRoot / NORML Fact Sheet, 2024Cannabis is increasingly replacing alcohol for many adults. Studies in 2025 found that consumers reduced alcohol intake by 25–27% following cannabis use. A CivicScience survey found 21% of "Dry January" participants replaced alcohol with cannabis — the largest share coming from adults 21–34.
25–27% reduction in alcohol use among cannabis consumers Multiple peer-reviewed studies, 2025 / NORML Year in ReviewSource: Upmetrics / Cannabis consumer survey data, 2024
Know the Facts
NIDA Monitoring the Future Survey, 2024
Teen cannabis use is at a 30-year low. In 19 of 21 states with pre/post legalization data, teen use decreased after legalization. Regulation is working.
Oregon Poison Center Annual Report, 2023
Cannabis edibles don't crack the top 10 causes of accidental poisoning in children ages 0–5. Household cleaners, cosmetics, and pain relievers each cause far more incidents annually.
Wiese et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience, April 2023
THC does not cause respiratory depression. Unlike opioids, THC receptors in the brainstem cannot directly shut down breathing. This is peer-reviewed science, not an industry talking point.
Canadian Review, ScienceDirect
88% of pediatric cannabis edible ER events are attributed to lack of safe storage — not product design. Education and secure storage are the interventions that actually work.
Join the Alliance
When cannabis legislation moves, we activate. Join our network to stay informed, get the facts, and show up when consumers need to be heard.
"The real solution is educating adults to store cannabis products locked and out of reach. That's what actually changes outcomes." — Dr. Rob Hendrickson, Oregon Poison Center Medical Director, OPB Think Out Loud