Where Does Your State Rank in Cannabis Consumption?
Cannabis consumption among humans isn’t going away anytime soon. Despite an intense prohibition, consumption rates have risen, not decreased. As we bring this prohibition to an end, cannabis rates aren’t likely to drop: Which is a good thing, as a slight increase in usage brought forth by medical cannabis has, according to studies, led to a drastic decrease in suicides, as well as traffic fatalities.
Examining consumption rates throughout America – using some of the most recent data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health – here is a full list of U.S. states, in order of the state with the highest percentage of cannabis consumers, and ending with the state that has the lowest.
Some of the states appear where you might expect, but others, such as America’s #1, might be a bit surprising to some.
- Alaska: Percentage of population that consume cannabis 12.2%Â Â Â Â
- Vermont: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 11.7%
- Colorado: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 11.4%
- Rhode Island: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 10.9%
- Oregon: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 10.3%
- Massachusetts: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 10.1%
- Maine: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 9.9%
- New Hampshire: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 9.8%
- Montana: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 9.2%
- Washington: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 9%
- Michigan: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 8.5%
- California: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 8.2%
- Hawaii: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7.9%
- New York: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7.7%
- New Mexico: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7.6%
- Connecticut: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7.6%
- Idaho: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7.2%
- North Carolina: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7.1%
- Nevada: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 7%
- Oklahoma: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6.9%
- Delaware: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6.8%
- Arizona: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6.4%
- Illinois: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6.4%
- Missouri: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6.1%
- South Carolina: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6%
- West Virginia: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6%
- Indiana: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6%
- Florida: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6%
- Maryland: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6%
- Pennsylvania: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 6%
- Ohio: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.9%
- Minnesota: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.9%
- Nebraska: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.8%
- Virginia: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.8%
- Wisconsin: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.6%
- New Jersey: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.5%
- Arkansas: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.4%
- Georgia: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.4%
- Texas: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.3%
- Kansas: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.2%
- Wyoming: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.2%
- Louisiana: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 5.2%
- South Dakota: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.9%
- Iowa: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.7%
- Tennessee: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.6%
- Alabama: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.6%
- Mississippi: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.6%
- Kentucky: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.5%
- North Dakota: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 4.1%
- Utah: Percentage of population that consume cannabis: 3%
There you have it! For information on cannabis consumptions across the globe, checkout this recent UN report, which finds that there are up to 225 million cannabis consumers in the world.
[Editor’s Note: The listing of states is based on those who have consumed cannabis in the past month.]
– TheJointBlog
Jacob Armbrust
Wonderful article! Thank you so much for the info. I’m going to make a map of this! 😀
Lorraine
I think these percentages are really on the low side. Or maybe I just know a lot of stoners here in IL and IN
Anonymous
That’s what I was thinking
Michael
You know most people lie when someone does a survey on an “illegal” drug. Do a survey in Washington now and see how many people say yes lol
kevin ottman
those numbers are not accurate people in what is it 18 or 19 states have medical marijauna way to low here in cali everything to do with cannabis is a big seller.
TheJointBlog
Hi Kevin, these numbers are based on research from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Given that cannabis is illegal, it’s entirely possible, and likely, that these numbers are significantly lower than the real rates, as many people won’t admit it. However, these are some of the best statistics we have to give us an idea of which states have the highest consumption rates.
Anonymous
I live in Alaska, and this estimated percentage of cannabis users is very conservative from my observations, I can definitely believe highest in the USA though!
Sarah
I live in Alaska, and this estimated percentage of cannabis users is very conservative from my observations, I can definitely believe highest in the USA though!
Regina Nelson
You know if all of these people shared their stories publicly–stating why they use cannabis–we could start to change the stigma associated with it’s use 😉
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cannabis-Patient-Network/255034017945223