In May, Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. After decades of activism, marijuana users and advocates are finally seeing a large-scale relaxation of marijuana restrictions at the state level. The District of Columbia and Guam have also legalized recreational weed use.
THC, one of the psychoactive constituents in marijuana, 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. Another active chemical contained in marijuana 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.)
Despite its federal status as a controlled substance, people across the country have been using marijuana for ages. To find the states where the most people use marijuana, 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). 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 June 2023, 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.
Although California and Colorado have reputations as pot-smoking paradises, these states fall at no. 17 and no. 8 on the list, respectively, with the New England states of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine each having 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.)
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 – mixed*: 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 – mixed*: 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 – mixed: 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