Survey: Americans Microdose Cannabis Far More Than Psychedelics

Researchers from the University of California San Francisco determined in a recent study that Americans are microdosing cannabis more than any other substance, and at nearly twice the rate of psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin.

The study “suggests conversations about microdosing may be overlooking a large group of people who are using small amounts of cannabis in similar ways,” said first author Kevin Yang, MD, resident physician in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

The study utilized survey results from 1,525 U.S. adults polled in 2023 about their microdosing habits. Roughly 9.4% of respondents said they had microdosed cannabis at least once in their life, while 5.3% reported microdosing psilocybin and 4.8% reported microdosing LSD. Additionally, 2.2% reported microdosing MDMA at least once.

The study found that respondents reported microdosing cannabis most often for medical reasons, such as anxiety or chronic pain. Meanwhile, psychedelic microdosing was used more frequently for recreational purposes by those who wanted a milder experience.

“Microdosing appears to be a growing behavior that cuts across different substances and motivations. Understanding how and why people are using these small doses is essential if we want to develop evidence-based policies and guidance for clinicians and the public.” — Eric Leas, PhD, MPH, senior author and assistant professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science