Medical cannabis enrollment surged nationwide over past decade, but leveled off as recreational access expanded

by American College of Physicians

edited by Swati Mestri, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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A national analysis of medical cannabis registry data found that the number of Americans registered to use medical cannabis increased from about 747,000 in 2016 to about 3.9 million in 2024.

Patient enrollment often declined after states legalized recreational cannabis, suggesting some people may obtain cannabis outside medical programs.

The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Michigan analyzed publicly available medical cannabis registry data from states and the District of Columbia from 2016 to 2024 to examine trends in patient enrollment and reasons for medical cannabis use.

They found that the number of registered patients increased by more than 420% during the study period.

Chronic pain remained the most common reason for medical cannabis use, but registrations for mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety grew substantially, even though evidence supporting cannabis treatment for these conditions remains limited.

The authors conclude that although medical cannabis use has expanded dramatically in the United States, a growing share of patients is using it for conditions with less evidence supporting its effectiveness, underscoring the need for further research on its potential benefits and risks.

Publication details

Kevin F. Boehnke et al, Trends in U.S. Medical Cannabis Registrations and Reasons for Use, 2016 to 2024, Annals of Internal Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.7326/annals-26-01527

Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine

Key medical concepts

Medical MarijuanaChronic PainPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderAnxiety

Clinical categories

PsychiatryPsychology & Mental health Provided by American College of Physicians Who's behind this story?

Swati Mestri

Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

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