Authors examine trends in past 30-day cannabis use from 2018 to 2023 among Hispanic, white non-Hispanic, Black non-Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native non-Hispanic, Asian non-Hispanic, Other/Two or more races adults (18 and over) in California.  Data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) were analyzed using cross tabulations and logistic regression to assess trends in cannabis use over time.

Findings: Multivariable analysis, controlling for sociodemographic factors, revealed an overall flat trend in past 30-day cannabis use in California from 2018 to 2023. Results for the main effect of race/ethnicity on past 30-day cannabis use indicated that the overall odds of using cannabis were lower among Asians compared to whites. Results for interactions between race/ethnicity and survey years indicated diverging cannabis use trends between whites and Hispanics: Among whites, the odds of past 30-day cannabis use increased. Among Hispanics, past 30-day cannabis use had a statistically significant declining trend. Authors conclude that legalization of recreational cannabis use in California does not seem connected with an increase in past 30-day cannabis use among adults. However, trends are different across different race/ethnic groups, possibly influenced by cross-group differences in factors such as level of access to cannabis, risk perception, socioeconomic status, and cultural and population-level norms about substance use.