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A growing number of American parents are using cannabis, raising questions about potential exposure and safety for children, according to a new study.
Cannabis use increased significantly among parents between 2012 and 2024, with researchers estimating that at least 5.9 million American children lived with a parent who used marijuana most of the time in 2024.
In 2024, 8% of parents used cannabis most of the time, 5.2% used it daily, and 6.7% met criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD).
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Daily cannabis use among parents was about four times more common than daily alcohol use, the study found.
Although the increases occurred in almost every demographic group, some of the largest were seen among younger and single parents, those from lower-income households and those without a four-year college degree.
A growing number of American parents are using cannabis, according to a new study. (Getty Images)
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), involving nearly 482,000 U.S. individuals ages 12 and older.
The results were published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
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“Marijuana has become so socially acceptable that people are starting to overlook the risks,” Dr. Jarid Pachter, who specializes in family medicine and addiction medicine at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, told Fox News Digital.
“Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s harmless,” added Pachter, who was not involved in the study.
“Marijuana has become so socially acceptable that people are starting to overlook the risks,” one expert said. (iStock)
The doctor also expressed concern about the example parents set for their children.
“If marijuana use is a part of life at home, children might start to view it as something normal and relatively harmless,” he said, pointing to studies that show children whose parents use marijuana are more likely to use it themselves as they grow older.
“Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s harmless.”
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that the parent’s marijuana use is causing the child to use it, but there is clearly a connection.”
The doctor also warned that THC, the main psychoactive chemical found in the marijuana plant, is known to affect attention, memory, coordination and reaction time.
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“When you have young children, you have to be vigilant and able to meet their needs,” he said. “I’m not saying that someone who uses marijuana can’t be a good parent. What concerns me is being impaired when you’re responsible for the safety of a child.”
“I also think we need to be careful about normalizing daily marijuana use,” he continued. “We would not automatically view daily alcohol consumption as harmless, nor should we view marijuana that way.”
Daily cannabis use among parents was about four times more common than daily alcohol use, the study found. (iStock)
Pachter pointed out that accidental ingestion is another concern, especially with edibles like marijuana gummies or chocolate, which can look like regular candy to a young child.
“We have seen a significant increase in emergency room visits involving children who accidentally use marijuana,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Some develop severe sedation, confusion and difficulty walking. In more severe cases, children may have breathing problems and require hospitalization.”
The more frequently a person uses marijuana, the greater the risk of developing a cannabis use disorder, the doctor warns.
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“We also know that THC can affect memory, attention and coordination. Frequent use, especially of very potent products, is associated with an increased risk of certain psychiatric problems in susceptible individuals.”
The more frequently a person uses marijuana, the greater their risk of developing a cannabis use disorder, the doctor warns. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)
Smoking marijuana in the presence of children may also pose a risk of indirect exposure.
“Marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke,” the doctor said. “We know that children can be exposed to THC through second-hand smoke, although we are still learning more about the long-term health effects.”
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For those who use marijuana every day, Pachter suggests asking themselves if they can live without it and if it affects their work, relationships or responsibilities.
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“And if you’re a parent, you need to ask yourself whether your marijuana use is affecting your ability to care for your children.”
The study had certain limitations. The researchers did not assess the quality of parenting or children’s health, and the results do not establish that parental cannabis use leads to harmful consequences for children.
The doctor pointed out that accidental ingestion is another concern, especially with edibles like marijuana gummies or chocolate, which can look like regular candy to a young child. (iStock)
Additionally, the data relied on self-reported substance use, which could be subject to recall or reporting bias.
The researchers called for further studies to examine whether frequency of parental cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, household exposure, and storage practices are associated with children’s health or development.
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The researchers reported financial support from the California Department of Cannabis Control, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Gn Health
