This Is the State With the Highest Weed Consumption: Marijuana Use Ranked by State

In 2012, Colorado and Washington were the first two states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Since then, there have been an additional 22 states following suit. After decades of activism, marijuana users and advocates are finally seeing a large-scale relaxation of marijuana restrictions at the state level. In November of 2023, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, preceded by Delaware, Maryland, and Minnesota, which became the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd states earlier that year. Other territories and districts have legalized recreational weed as well – Guam in 2019 and the District of Columbia in 2015.  

According to the National Institute of Health, marijuana is one of the more complex plants with around 426 chemical entities. Four major compounds have been researched the most – d-9-THC, CBD, d-8-THC, and cannabinol. The more commonly known compound is THC, one of the psychoactive constituents in marijuana, which can cause euphoria when smoked or ingested.

Besides smoking for pleasure, many marijuana users also use the plant for medical reasons, including the relief of chronic pain, insomnia, nausea, tremors associated with Parkinson’s Disease, and anxiety. The other well-known compound is CBD, which is purported to carry some of the same medical benefits without causing the associated high. (Take a look at these foods and drinks enhanced with CBD.)

Although weed is now legal in many states across the nation, it is still listed as a controlled substance federally, people across the country have been using marijuana for ages. 24/7 Tempo reviewed preliminary data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (published March 8, 2023, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) to find the weed consumption by state. States are ranked by the percentage of the population 12 years and older who used marijuana in the past year. All marijuana use data is from the 2021 NSDUH.

The legal status of marijuana use in each state, last updated in February 2024, came from DISA, a third-party administrator of drug and alcohol testing, background screening, and more for employers. Population data came from the Census Bureau’s population and housing unit estimates for July 2022.

Some states may come as a surprise. States that have reputations as pot-smoking utopias, like California and Colorado, saw their consumption rates fall, placing them at no. 17 and no. 8 on the list, respectively, while the New England states of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine each have a higher percentage of marijuana users. On the West Coast, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington are in the top five states where people use the most weed. (These are the most marijuana-friendly cities in America.)

Here is the most weed consumption by state, ranked

50. Texas

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 12.6% (total: 3,066,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 7.7% — 2nd lowest (total: 1,869,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.5% — 2nd lowest (total: 238,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 30,029,572

49. Alabama

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 12.7% (total: 537,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 7.4% — the lowest (total: 315,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.5% — 3rd lowest (total: 40,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 5,074,296

48. Utah

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 13.3% (total: 361,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 8.9% — 4th lowest (total: 242,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.6% — 6th lowest (total: 38,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 3,380,800

47. South Dakota

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 13.7% (total: 100,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 8.4% — 3rd lowest (total: 62,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.8% — 11th lowest (total: 9,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 909,824

46. North Carolina

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 13.7% (total: 1,219,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.7% — 7th lowest (total: 857,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 25th highest (total: 103,000)
• Legal status – fully illegal: Medicinal use: No; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 10,698,973

45. Nebraska

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 14.4% (total: 233,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.8% — 8th lowest (total: 159,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.0% — 14th lowest (total: 22,000)
• Legal status – fully illegal: Medicinal use: No; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,967,923

44. Hawaii

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 14.9% (total: 175,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.4% — 6th lowest (total: 111,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 22nd highest (total: 14,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,440,196

43. Florida

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 15.0% (total: 2,805,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 10.7% — 15th lowest (total: 1,996,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.5% — 5th lowest (total: 192,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 22,244,823

42. Kentucky

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 15.2% (total: 573,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.9% — 11th lowest (total: 375,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.8% — 10th lowest (total: 39,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only*; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 4,512,310

41. Idaho

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 15.3% (total: 242,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 10.1% — 12th lowest (total: 161,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.2% — 22nd lowest (total: 19,000)
• Legal status – fully illegal: Medicinal use: No; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 1,939,033

40. Arkansas

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 15.6% (total: 393,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.2% — 5th lowest (total: 233,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.5% — 4th lowest (total: 24,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 3,045,637

39. Mississippi

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 15.6% (total: 383,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.9% — 22nd lowest (total: 291,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.4% — the lowest (total: 24,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 2,940,057

38. South Carolina

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 15.6% (total: 687,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 10.4% — 13th lowest (total: 456,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.7% — 7th lowest (total: 44,000)
• Legal status – fully illegal: Medicinal use: No; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 5,282,634

37. New Jersey

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 16.3% (total: 1,285,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.7% — 19th lowest (total: 921,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.7% — 8th lowest (total: 83,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 9,261,699

36. North Dakota

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 16.5% (total: 105,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.9% — 10th lowest (total: 63,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 20th highest (total: 8,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 779,261

35. West Virginia

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 16.6% (total: 253,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.8% — 21st lowest (total: 180,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.8% — 12th lowest (total: 17,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 1,775,156

34. Tennessee

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 16.6% (total: 975,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 9.8% — 9th lowest (total: 579,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 21st highest (total: 72,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 7,051,339

33. Wisconsin

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 16.6% (total: 834,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.1% — 16th lowest (total: 558,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.1% — 21st lowest (total: 62,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 5,892,539

32. Georgia

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 17.2% (total: 1,546,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.5% — 18th lowest (total: 1,032,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 1.7% — 9th lowest (total: 91,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 10,912,876

31. Wyoming

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 17.2% (total: 84,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 10.6% — 14th lowest (total: 51,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.2% — 24th lowest (total: 5,000)
• Legal status – fully illegal: Medicinal use: No; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 581,381

30. Pennsylvania

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 17.5% (total: 1,934,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 12.6% — 25th highest (total: 1,395,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.0% — 13th lowest (total: 138,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 12,972,008

29. Virginia

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 18.0% (total: 1,304,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 12.1% — 23rd lowest (total: 874,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.0% — 15th lowest (total: 81,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 8,683,619

28. New Hampshire

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 18.5% (total: 225,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 12.4% — 25th lowest (total: 151,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.0% — 17th lowest (total: 13,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,395,231

27. Minnesota

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 18.6% (total: 893,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 12.9% — 24th highest (total: 618,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.6% — 13th highest (total: 65,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 5,717,184

26. Missouri

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 18.6% (total: 963,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 14.3% — 18th highest (total: 742,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.6% — 12th highest (total: 65,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 6,177,957

25. Indiana

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 18.6% (total: 1,062,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.7% — 20th lowest (total: 668,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.0% — 16th lowest (total: 65,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 6,833,037

24. Kansas

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.0% (total: 459,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 12.1% — 24th lowest (total: 294,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.2% — 23rd lowest (total: 29,000)
• Legal status – fully illegal: Medicinal use: No; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 2,937,150

23. Louisiana

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.0% (total: 727,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 13.0% — 23rd highest (total: 497,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.1% — 18th lowest (total: 42,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 4,590,241

22. Maryland

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.1% (total: 988,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 14.0% — 20th highest (total: 724,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.1% — 20th lowest (total: 61,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 6,164,660

21. Delaware

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.2% (total: 164,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 15.0% — 16th highest (total: 128,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.5% — 17th highest (total: 11,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,018,396

20. Iowa

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.3% (total: 519,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 11.3% — 17th lowest (total: 303,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.6% — 14th highest (total: 38,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: CBD oil only; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 3,200,517

19. Ohio

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.6% (total: 1,947,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 13.8% — 21st highest (total: 1,370,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 25th lowest (total: 115,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 11,756,058

18. Connecticut

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 19.9% (total: 619,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 13.4% — 22nd highest (total: 418,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.4% — 19th highest (total: 39,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 3,626,205

17. California

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 20.8% (total: 6,886,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 14.2% — 19th highest (total: 4,704,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 24th highest (total: 401,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 39,029,342

16. Illinois

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 21.0% (total: 2,247,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 14.9% — 17th highest (total: 1,597,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.3% — 23rd highest (total: 132,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 12,582,032

15. New York

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 21.1% (total: 3,578,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 15.4% — 15th highest (total: 2,601,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.1% — 19th lowest (total: 194,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 19,677,151

14. Montana

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 21.6% (total: 203,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 15.5% — 14th highest (total: 146,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.9% — 8th highest (total: 12,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,122,867

13. Arizona

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 21.9% (total: 1,348,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.0% — 10th highest (total: 1,108,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.9% — 9th highest (total: 77,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 7,359,197

12. New Mexico

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 22.8% (total: 406,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.0% — 9th highest (total: 321,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 3.1% — 7th highest (total: 24,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 2,113,344

11. Oklahoma

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 24.2% (total: 794,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 16.6% — 13th highest (total: 546,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.5% — 18th highest (total: 39,000)
• Legal status – mixed: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: No
• Population, July 2022: 4,019,800

10. Rhode Island

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 24.2% (total: 229,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 17.5% — 11th highest (total: 166,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.6% — 11th highest (total: 12,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,093,734

9. Michigan

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 24.7% (total: 2,118,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.3% — 7th highest (total: 1,570,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.7% — 10th highest (total: 110,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 10,034,113

8. Colorado

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 24.7% (total: 1,217,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.6% — 3rd highest (total: 916,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 3.1% — 6th highest (total: 62,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 5,839,926

7. Nevada

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 24.8% (total: 659,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.2% — 8th highest (total: 483,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 3.3% — 5th highest (total: 33,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 3,177,772

6. Maine

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 24.8% (total: 298,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.5% — 5th highest (total: 222,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.6% — 15th highest (total: 14,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 1,385,340

5. Massachusetts

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 25.6% (total: 1,552,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 17.2% — 12th highest (total: 1,041,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 3.3% — 4th highest (total: 101,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 6,981,974

4. Washington

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 25.9% (total: 1,691,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.3% — 6th highest (total: 1,198,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 2.5% — 16th highest (total: 88,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 7,785,786

3. Alaska

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 27.0% (total: 158,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 20.9% — 2nd highest (total: 122,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 4.0% — 3rd highest (total: 9,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 733,583

2. Oregon

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 28.8% (total: 1,052,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 18.5% — 4th highest (total: 678,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 4.0% — 2nd highest (total: 52,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 4,240,137

1. Vermont

• Marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 30.8% (total: 175,000)
• Marijuana use (past month), ages 12+: 22.3% — the highest (total: 127,000)
• First-time marijuana use (past year), ages 12+: 4.8% — the highest (total: 8,000)
• Legal status – fully legal: Medicinal use: Yes; Decriminalized: Yes
• Population, July 2022: 647,064