• Posted June 9, 2025

Fewer People Seeking Treatment For Cannabis Use Disorder

MONDAY, June 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Fewer people are receiving treatment for cannabis use disorder these days, even as weed becomes more potent and widely used throughout the U.S., a new study says.

The percentage of people in treatment for cannabis use disorder declined from 19% in 2003 to 13% in 2019, researchers reported recently in the journal Substance Use & Misuse.

This decrease has occurred even though millions of Americans could be diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, researchers said.

“Cannabis use disorder treatment is often overshadowed by treatments for other substance use disorders, despite its growing prevalence and impact,” senior researcher Brian Graves, an assistant professor of social work at Florida Atlantic University, said in a news release.

Weed is now legal for recreational use in 24 states, and another 15 states have approved its use for medicinal purposes. Both uses are legal in Washington, D.C.

About 3 in 10 people who use marijuana are believed to have cannabis use disorder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More than 16 million people 12 and older now meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder, researchers said in background notes.

To track whether people are getting help, researchers analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health collected in 2003, 2011 and 2019.

At all three points, results showed, most people with cannabis use disorder did not receive any form of treatment for their problematic use of weed.

People who could be diagnosed with cannabis use disorder gave a variety of reasons why they didn’t receive treatment:

• About 38% said they didn’t know where to go.

• About 34% said they weren’t ready to quit.

• Nearly 29% said treatment might have a negative impact on their job.

• About 23% had a negative opinion of treatment.

• Just over 19% said they couldn’t afford treatment or had no insurance.

• Nearly 15% said they could handle their weed use without treatment.

People were three times more likely to receive treatment if they’d been arrested and seven times more likely if they were on probation or parole, results showed.

Those receiving mental health care also were more likely to seek treatment for cannabis use disorder, researchers found.

“Our findings highlight an urgent and growing need for targeted outreach and improved education about available treatment options for cannabis use disorder,” Graves said.

“Beyond simply increasing awareness, we must address the practical obstacles – like affordability and access – as well as the perceptual barriers such as stigma and misinformation that prevent many individuals from seeking help,” Graves added.

According to the CDC, signs of possible cannabis use disorder include:

• Using more weed than intended.

• Trying but failing to quit using.

• Using cannabis even though it causes problems at home, school and work.

• Giving up important activities or relationships in favor of using weed.

• Using weed in high-risk situations, such as while driving a car.

• Needing more weed to get the same high.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on cannabis use disorder.

SOURCES: Florida Atlantic University, news release, June 3, 2025; Substance Use & Misuse, May 19, 2025