Health · Mental Health · 1 hr ago
Daily cannabis use is more common among middle-aged users, study finds
Researchers from King's College London and the University of Bath analysed survey responses from more than 25,000 adults.
They found cannabis users in their 40s and 50s were more than twice as likely to use it daily as users aged 18 to 24.
The study estimated that 1.2 million adults in Great Britain use cannabis every day, or roughly one in 50 adults.
Daily use was reported by about one in three cannabis users aged 35 to 54, compared with about one in eight users aged 18 to 24.
Some middle-aged adults may use cannabis to try to manage stress, anxiety or long-term pain as they get older.
Experts warn that frequent use can worsen mental health problems and lead to dependence.
The estimate is higher than figures from other surveys, but those surveys used different methods, so the figures do not show that cannabis use has risen.
A study estimates that 1.2 million adults in Great Britain use cannabis every day, about one in 50 adults.
Among cannabis users aged 45 to 54, 33.7 per cent reported daily use, compared with 12.1 per cent of users aged 18 to 24.
Researchers from King's College London and the University of Bath analysed survey responses from more than 25,000 adults.
The study’s authors and a health charity said some middle-aged adults may use cannabis to manage health problems.
A charity chief executive warned that frequent use can lead to dependence and may worsen mental health problems.
- Who
- Researchers from King's College London and the University of Bath studied adult cannabis use.
- What
- The study found daily cannabis use was more common among middle-aged users than among users aged 18 to 24.
- When
- The study was published on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- Great Britain.
- Why
- Experts suggested some middle-aged adults may use cannabis to manage stress, anxiety or chronic pain. The study examined patterns of use.
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- Estimated daily users
- 1.2 million adults in Great Britain
- Survey sample
- More than 25,000 adults
- Daily use among users aged 18–24
- 12.1 per cent
- Daily use among users aged 45–54
- 33.7 per cent
- Publication date
- 9 November 2026
What people are saying
The reality is that it's often fueling some of that poor mental health.
I think there would be a reasonable argument to say that potentially some of this use in middle age is linked to a real or perceived management of health conditions.