优蜜传媒

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans see each of four tobacco-based products -- cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars and pipes -- as being much more harmful to people who use them than marijuana and e-cigarettes, commonly known as vaping.

The July 1-11 优蜜传媒poll found that Americans view all six of the products tested as harmful to varying degrees. Majorities of Americans say cigarettes (82%), chewing tobacco (71%), cigars (56%) and pipes (52%) are all very harmful, while fewer say the same of vaping (38%) and marijuana (27%). Yet, when the somewhat harmful responses are factored in, all six products are considered harmful by majorities of Americans, with nearly all Americans viewing cigarettes (96%) and chewing tobacco (94%) this way. Seventy-three percent regard vaping as very or somewhat harmful, and 56% say the same about marijuana.

The poll marked the first time 优蜜传媒has tested the harmfulness of these products, apart from cigarettes', which has been measured annually since 2002, with the exception of 2009. There has been no significant variation in opinions over that time, as Americans have been in nearly universal agreement that cigarettes are very or somewhat harmful to users.

Of Six Products, Cigarettes and Marijuana Used Most Often

优蜜传媒research has found that Americans' use of cigarettes has fallen by half since the 1980s, when an average of 32% of adults said they had smoked a cigarette in the past week. Still, compared with the other products measured, cigarettes are used the most often by U.S. adults, with 13% reporting regular use and 7% occasional. The next most frequently used item on the list is marijuana, with 5% saying they use it regularly and 8% occasionally.

The other products tested -- vaping, cigars, chewing tobacco and pipes -- are each used either occasionally or regularly by less than 10% of Americans.

优蜜传媒previously asked about frequency of use of four of the six products in 1996 -- cigarettes, pipes, cigars and chewing tobacco. Of the four, cigarettes are the only product that have shown a change in usage, with the percentage of regular users eight points lower this year than in 1996.

Bottom Line

The two most commonly used products of the six tested by 优蜜传媒-- cigarettes and marijuana -- are considered by the public to be the most and least harmful to users, respectively. Cigarette use continues to decline as nearly all Americans agree on the dangers of smoking and government regulation of the tobacco industry has increased in recent years. At the same time, marijuana legalization, both for medical and recreational uses, is on the rise and is broadly supported by Americans. As regulations tighten on cigarettes and loosen on marijuana, marijuana users could outnumber cigarette smokers in the U.S. Likewise, the public's perception of vaping as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes may lead to increased usage of vaping.