The website Best Life has determined which states have the most cannabis users. They calculated the "percentage of adults in each state who say they've used cannabis within the last year, according to Statista," based on 2018-2019 research. They also used U.S. Census population data per state. The numbers below are per capita or per 100,000 residents.
State-by-State Numbers
1. Oregon: 28,560
2. Colorado: 27,770
3. Vermont: 25,710
4. Maine: 25,530
5. Alaska: 24,520
6. Washington: 24,180
7. Nevada: 22,610
8. Rhode Island: 21,290
9. New Hampshire: 20,890
10. Massachusetts: 20,870
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11. Montana: 20,070
12. New Mexico: 18,990
13. Michigan 18,910
14. California: 18,890
15. Connecticut: 18,680
16. Delaware: 17,400
17. Arizona: 17,200
18. Minnesota: 15,900
19. Indiana: 15,890
20. New York: 15,530
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21. Illinois: 15,410
22. Missouri:14,820
23. Maryland: 14,810
24. West Virginia: 14,650
25. Hawaii: 14,560
26. Pennsylvania: 14,470
27. Florida: 14,450
28. Idaho: 13,960
29. Ohio: 13,960
30. Kansas: 13,930
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31. South Carolina: 13,820
32. Wisconsin: 13,770
33. Georgia: 13,710
34. Arkansas: 13,610
35. Tennessee: 13,240
36. Oklahoma: 13,150
37. Wyoming: 13,140
38. Kentucky: 13,000
39. North Carolina: 12,960
40. Alabama: 12,820
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41. Nebraska: 12,700
42. Iowa: 12,610
43. Louisiana: 12,540
44. New Jersey: 12,420
45. South Dakota: 12,260
46. North Dakota: 12,170
47. Virginia: 12,050
48. Mississippi: 11,670
49. Texas: 11,210
50. Utah: 11,160
Analysis
Considering these are 2018-2019 numbers, it reflects states that were adult legal by then: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts. Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. All of these states have stong medical programs, as well as Florida, Illinois and Oklahoma. Eight of the top states were adult legal by 2016. The other two - New Hampshire and Rhode Island - are in the Northeast where numerous states (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York) passed legalization in 2021.
Cannabis use in the leading states is 2.5 times higher than in the least states. Despite prohibition, use is strong in Indiana, MInnesota and West Virginia. The bottom 10 states includes two of the most recent to legalize - New Jersey and Virginia. Perhaps if there were more users in Texas, the Lone Star State would be able to reform its laws.
