These U.S. States Boast the Highest Number of Cannabis Consumers

Oregon is home to more cannabis consumers per capita than any other U.S. state, according to a Best Life article that quantifies cannabis consumption across the 50 states using data from Statista and the U.S. Census Bureau. With cannabis legalization initiatives on fire, more and more states are seeing this number hike—particularly states like Oregon that have legal adult-use cannabis programs.

In 2020, legal cannabis sales contributed $17.5 billion to the U.S. economy, proving how valuable the swelling consumer demographic can be from a fiscal point of view. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the states in the top 10 for cannabis use.

1. Oregon

Cannabis is legal for medicinal and recreational purposes in the state of Oregon. For every 100,000 people, 28,560 are believed to be cannabis consumers. The 2022 sales outlook per 100,000 people is $21.5 million.

2. Colorado

In Colorado, where medicinal cannabis use was legalized in 2000 and recreational cannabis use was legalized in 2012, the number of adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people rests at 27,770. The 2022 sales forecast per 100,000 residents is $42.7 million.

3. Vermont

In Vermont, where medicinal and recreational use has been legal since 2004 and 2018 respectively, there are 25,710 adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people. Next year’s sales forecast pins the projected revenue at $17.3 million per 100,000 people.

4. Maine

In Maine, where the green plant has been legalized for medicinal (1999) and recreational (2016) purposes, the number of adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people is recorded as 25,530. For 2022, the sales forecast suggests that $19.7 million will be spent for every 100,000 people.

5. Alaska

The number of adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people is 24,520 in Alaska, where medicinal and recreational consumption has been legal since 1998 and 2014 respectively. Analysts predict that every 100,000 consumers will spend $16.7 million on cannabis products in 2022.

6. Washington

In Washington, where medicinal and recreational consumption has been legal since 1998 and 2012 respectively, the number of adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people stands at 24,180. The 2022 sales forecast per 100,000 people is $19.7 million.

7. Nevada

Medicinal and recreational cannabis are major fortifiers for the economy in Nevada. The 2022 sales prediction per 100,000 people is $21.2 million, whereas the number of adult cannabis consumers is 22,610 per 100,000 people.

8. Rhode Island

There are 21,210 adult cannabis consumers for every 100,000 people in Rhode Island. Medicinal cannabis use is legal and the number of adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people is 21,210. The 2022 sales insights suggest that $18 million will be spent per 100,000 people.

9. New Hampshire

Medicinal cannabis use became legal in New Hampshire in 2013. The state’s medical cannabis laws have certainly encouraged more adults to try the plant, with BestLife confirming that the number of adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people is 20,890. Next year’s sales forecast per 100,000 people is $2.7 million.

10. Massachusetts

Medicinal and recreational use is legal in Massachusetts, where there are 20,870 adult cannabis consumers per 100,000 people. Next year’s sales forecast per 100,000 people is pegged at $17.6 million.

Besides state-legal cannabis programs, what else influences high cannabis consumption in particular areas? That’s another study altogether, but researchers have already tried to identify some of the factors leading to widespread cannabis consumption. For example, a 2020 study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors Reports associated cannabis use among Chilean adolescents with tobacco use, alcohol use, and having friends who use cannabis. This is just one finding on the topic—cannabis use is likely influenced by a combination of social, political, and cultural factors.

Curious how your state ranks for cannabis consumption? View the entire list here.