Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the United States, however, 24 states and the District of Columbia have modernized their cannabis policies to permit recreational cannabis use by adults. Many more permit cannabis for medical use.
The results of a new Gallup survey are out, in which adult cannabis consumers across the United States were asked if they consume cannabis ‘regularly.’ The survey defined ‘regularly’ as being at least 10 days of consumption per month.
Specifically, Gallup asked, “Keeping in mind that this is confidential, how many days in the last month have you used cannabis products (such as smoking marijuana, vaping liquid THC, or consuming baked goods or gummies) to alter your mood and help you relax?”
According to the results of the survey, 9% of U.S. adults report using cannabis regularly. In addition to a reported 9% ‘regular’ consumption rate, the Gallup survey found that roughly one in five adults (19%) reported using cannabis products at least once in the prior month.
“Regular usage differs by education and income, with the highest rates seen among those with a high school education or less (13%) and those living in households earning less than $24,000 per year (16%). These consumption levels are about three times the rates found among those with postgraduate work or degrees (5%) and those living in households earning $180,000 or more annually (5%).” Gallup stated.
“The results are based on a web survey of 6,386 U.S. adults, conducted Nov. 30-Dec. 8, 2023, as part of the Gallup Panel, a probability-based, non-opt-in panel encompassing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.” Gallup stated about its survey methodology.
When broken down by age and gender, the Gallup survey found that “adults younger than 50, for example, are twice as likely as those aged 65 and older to be regular cannabis users (12% vs. 6%, respectively). Men (11%) are marginally more likely than women (8%) to be regular consumers.”
The Gallup survey also examined cannabis usage rates by geographical region. Gallup found that, “the highest rates of use (11%) are found in the Middle Atlantic (New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and East North Central divisions (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio). The lowest usage rates (7%) are reported in the East South Central (Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama) and the West North Central (North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri) divisions.”
A particularly insightful fact from the Gallup survey involved cannabis usage rates between states where cannabis is permitted for adult use and where it is not. Gallup found that in legal states the average days of cannabis consumption per month by adults was 2.9 days versus 2.5 days in illegal states, demonstrating that there is “little difference in usage” rates.
Cannabis sales in the United States are expected to reach $31.4 billion in 2024 according to a recent analysis by Whitney Economics. Additionally, leading cannabis jobs platform Vangst, in conjunction with Whitney Economics, estimates that the legal cannabis industry now supports 440,445 full time-equivalent cannabis jobs in the United States.
Whitney Economics also projects the following legal cannabis sales figures in the United States for the coming years:
- 2024: $31.4 billion (9.1% growth from 2023)
- 2025: $35.2 billion (12.1% growth from 2024)
- 2030: $67.2 billion
- 2035: $87.0 billion
The Pew Research Center has determined that:
- 79% of Americans live in a county with at least one cannabis dispensary.
- There are nearly 15,000 cannabis dispensaries in the United States.
- California alone has 3,659 cannabis dispensaries
- Oklahoma has the most cannabis dispensaries per capita in the U.S. (36 dispensaries for every 100,000 Oklahoma residents)