The New York Times finally reported on something interesting. A new story published by the outlet covered the marijuana epidemic that has swept across the country, showing that over 10 percent of the United States are now regular users of the drug.
18 million Americans are smoking weed 21+ days a month
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) February 9, 2026
This is a full blown addiction crisis that even the NYT now says: "It’s Time for America to Admit That It Has a Marijuana Problem" pic.twitter.com/FRGWFg6Bt3
The Times reported that 44 million Americans are using marijuana, and are consuming it at least once per month, with more than 5 percent of the country, 18 million Americans, using it at least 70 percent of the days out of the year.
That figure has tripled since 2012, when six million people were reported to be near-daily users of marijuana, and under one million in the same category back in 1992.
Marijuana use continues to rise at an alarming rate. Per the NYT, 18 million Americans smoke pot almost daily—up from 6 million in 2012, and less than one million in 1992. pic.twitter.com/xI63KYbxCO
— Patrick Casey (@restoreorderusa) February 10, 2026
Those numbers are astronomical, and very revealing. You can’t walk down the street of a major city or through most college campuses without being inundated with the smell of it. It’s ubiquitous in youth culture, promoted by music, TV, and movies. When you consider that one out of every ten Americans are habitual users, it’s no wonder that you can’t avoid it.
The problem has become so massive that the Times has reversed course on their 2014 endorsement of legalizing marijuana, claiming that their predictions were wildly incorrect and that there are a greater number of daily marijuana users than alcohol.
The importance of the @nytimes editorial board reversal on marijuana cannot be overstated. The normative position in America is now to acknowledge what we @learnaboutsam have said for a decade: marijuana is dangerous, addictive, and problematic. It shouldn't be normalized. pic.twitter.com/G9gmE8aV5c
— Luke Niforatos (@LukeNiforatos) February 10, 2026
Smoking marijuana is one of the most anti-social behaviors that I can think of, and the statistics regarding its harm to the American youth can’t be understated. One study shows that nearly half of young males who develop psychosis from the drug will go schizophrenic, and another showed a high increase in suicide rates for those extensively using marijuana.
41.3% of young males with cannabis-induced psychosis develop schizophrenia within 3 years. https://t.co/3wMj1UcC09 pic.twitter.com/k2fm1h7wne
— Nicholas Fabiano, MD (@NTFabiano) February 10, 2026
Brett Cooper, the former Daily Wire host, told a similar story about her brother who fell prey to the drug and its ill effects on social media this Tuesday.
My mom and I have been told that my brother's psychosis - now full blown diagnosed Schizophrenia - is most likely drug induced from his years of smoking weed.
— Brett Cooper (@imbrettcooper) February 10, 2026
This drug isn't harmless, no matter what our culture and screaming people in comments sections tried to tell us. https://t.co/PMFDO0kx4v
I personally know people who have had great experiences with cannabis, especially when dealing with chronic illnesses. I also know many people, including my brother, who have had awful experiences. Both sides have been studied.
— Brett Cooper (@imbrettcooper) February 10, 2026
Many of us are simply asking for people to be…
These statistics show that America's next public health crisis is already here, and the trends indicate that it won't end any time soon.
