Special Report

This State Smokes the Most Pot: Ranking Use by State

OpenRangeStock / Getty Images

Some 30% of American states have legalized recreational marijuana use, with New York becoming the 15th to do so this March. (It has also been legalized in Washington D.C.) This month, the House of Representatives approved a bill to protect banks that service marijuana businesses in states where it is legal from being penalized by federal regulators, with more than 100 Republicans joining the Democratic bloc in supporting the bill. (Here are the 15 states where marijuana is legal.)  

These legislative actions at the state and federal level mirror changes in public opinion. According to a 2020 Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. That figure has risen steadily, and particularly in the last two decades, since Gallup first started polling on the issue more than 50 years ago.

Of course, many people have long been smoking marijuana anyway, regardless of its legal status. There’s even a whole film genre about smoking pot — the stoner movie — that includes such classics such as “Slackers” and “Pineapple Express.” (These are 50 movies critics hate but audiences love.)

What states smoke the most pot, legal or not? 24/7 Wall St. has ranked all 50 based on marijuana use. Not surprisingly, people in the most politically liberal states smoke more than those in conservative ones. The No. 1 state for pot use is Vermont, home to Bernie Sanders, one of the most prominent progressives in the country. While pot is already legal in the state, his website still proclaims: “We will legalize marijuana and vacate and expunge past marijuana convictions.” 

Click here to see the states where the most people smoke marijuana.

It’s also noteworthy that the top marijuana-using states — including Oregon, Colorado, Maine, and Washington, as well as Vermont — are all fairly rural.

To identify the states where the most people smoke marijuana, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed state-level substance use data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2018 – 2019 estimates, which is conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Marijuana use figures are adjusted to population per 10,000, with total 2019 population numbers coming from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey. 

EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

50. South Dakota
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 904 (total: 80,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 520 — 2nd lowest (total: 46,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 102 — 18th lowest (total: 9,000)
> Total population: 884,659

[in-text-ad]

Adventure_Photo / Getty Images

49. Utah
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 979 (total: 314,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 512 — the lowest (total: 164,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 109 — 23rd highest (total: 35,000)
> Total population: 3,205,958

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

48. Texas
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 987 (total: 2,862,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 582 — 4th lowest (total: 1,688,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 102 — 19th lowest (total: 297,000)
> Total population: 28,995,881

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

47. Mississippi
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 998 (total: 297,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 648 — 9th lowest (total: 193,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 91 — 6th lowest (total: 27,000)
> Total population: 2,976,149

[in-text-ad-2]

f11photo / Getty Images

46. Louisiana
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 998 (total: 464,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 637 — 8th lowest (total: 296,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 95 — 10th lowest (total: 44,000)
> Total population: 4,648,794

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

45. Virginia
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,015 (total: 866,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 655 — 10th lowest (total: 559,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 91 — 7th lowest (total: 78,000)
> Total population: 8,535,519

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

44. North Dakota
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,024 (total: 78,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 630 — 7th lowest (total: 48,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 118 — 13th highest (total: 9,000)
> Total population: 762,062

pabradyphoto / Getty Images

43. Iowa
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,036 (total: 327,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 558 — 3rd lowest (total: 176,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 114 — 15th highest (total: 36,000)
> Total population: 3,155,070

Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

42. Wyoming
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,054 (total: 61,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 605 — 5th lowest (total: 35,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 104 — 23rd lowest (total: 6,000)
> Total population: 578,759

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

41. Arkansas
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,120 (total: 338,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 699 — 12th lowest (total: 211,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 96 — 12th lowest (total: 29,000)
> Total population: 3,017,804

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

40. Tennessee
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,142 (total: 780,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 731 — 15th lowest (total: 499,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 94 — 9th lowest (total: 64,000)
> Total population: 6,829,174

[in-text-ad]

knowlesgallery / Getty Images

39. Idaho
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,147 (total: 205,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 699 — 13th lowest (total: 125,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 95 — 11th lowest (total: 17,000)
> Total population: 1,787,065

Creative-Family / Getty Images

38. New Jersey
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,163 (total: 1,033,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 761 — 18th lowest (total: 676,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 100 — 15th lowest (total: 89,000)
> Total population: 8,882,190

ChrisBoswell / Getty Images

37. Nebraska
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,173 (total: 227,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 693 — 11th lowest (total: 134,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 114 — 16th highest (total: 22,000)
> Total population: 1,934,408

[in-text-ad-2]

Davel5957 / Getty Images

36. Kansas
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,198 (total: 349,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 611 — 6th lowest (total: 178,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 106 — 24th highest (total: 31,000)
> Total population: 2,913,314

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

35. South Carolina
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,204 (total: 620,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 763 — 20th lowest (total: 393,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 87 — 2nd lowest (total: 45,000)
> Total population: 5,148,714

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

34. West Virginia
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,211 (total: 217,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 809 — 22nd lowest (total: 145,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 100 — 16th lowest (total: 18,000)
> Total population: 1,792,147

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

33. Georgia
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,234 (total: 1,310,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 757 — 17th lowest (total: 804,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 100 — 13th lowest (total: 106,000)
> Total population: 10,617,423

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

32. Alabama
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,234 (total: 605,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 726 — 14th lowest (total: 356,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 90 — 5th lowest (total: 44,000)
> Total population: 4,903,185

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

31. Wisconsin
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,237 (total: 720,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 764 — 21st lowest (total: 445,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 110 — 21st highest (total: 64,000)
> Total population: 5,822,434

Davel5957 / Getty Images

30. Kentucky
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,238 (total: 553,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 813 — 23rd lowest (total: 363,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 101 — 17th lowest (total: 45,000)
> Total population: 4,467,673

[in-text-ad]

f11photo / Getty Images

29. Missouri
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,243 (total: 763,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 749 — 16th lowest (total: 460,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 106 — 25th highest (total: 65,000)
> Total population: 6,137,428

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

28. North Carolina
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,255 (total: 1,316,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 762 — 19th lowest (total: 799,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 90 — 4th lowest (total: 94,000)
> Total population: 10,488,084

Majestic_Aerials / Getty Images

27. Oklahoma
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,256 (total: 497,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 824 — 24th lowest (total: 326,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 104 — 22nd lowest (total: 41,000)
> Total population: 3,956,971

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

26. Florida
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,259 (total: 2,705,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 860 — 22nd highest (total: 1,848,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 89 — 3rd lowest (total: 191,000)
> Total population: 21,477,737

okimo / iStock via Getty Images

25. Hawaii
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,285 (total: 182,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 826 — 25th lowest (total: 117,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 78 — the lowest (total: 11,000)
> Total population: 1,415,872

[in-text-ad]

Dreamframer / Getty Images

24. Arizona
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,330 (total: 968,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 914 — 20th highest (total: 665,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 110 — 22nd highest (total: 80,000)
> Total population: 7,278,717

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

23. Ohio
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,331 (total: 1,556,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 859 — 23rd highest (total: 1,004,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 112 — 18th highest (total: 131,000)
> Total population: 11,689,100

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

22. Maryland
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,345 (total: 813,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 920 — 19th highest (total: 556,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 93 — 8th lowest (total: 56,000)
> Total population: 6,045,680

[in-text-ad-2]

f11photo / Getty Images

21. Pennsylvania
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,369 (total: 1,752,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 835 — 24th highest (total: 1,069,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 100 — 14th lowest (total: 128,000)
> Total population: 12,801,989

f11photo / Getty Images

20. Indiana
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,378 (total: 928,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 960 — 17th highest (total: 646,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 104 — 25th lowest (total: 70,000)
> Total population: 6,732,219

[in-text-ad]

marchello74 / Getty Images

19. Illinois
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,379 (total: 1,748,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 874 — 21st highest (total: 1,107,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 103 — 21st lowest (total: 131,000)
> Total population: 12,671,821

RudyBalasko / Getty Images

18. Minnesota
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,385 (total: 781,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 832 — 25th highest (total: 469,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 112 — 19th highest (total: 63,000)
> Total population: 5,639,632

FilippoBacci / Getty Images

17. New York
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,476 (total: 2,871,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 939 — 18th highest (total: 1,827,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 104 — 24th lowest (total: 202,000)
> Total population: 19,453,561

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

16. Delaware
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,530 (total: 149,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,037 — 15th highest (total: 101,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 103 — 20th lowest (total: 10,000)
> Total population: 973,764

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

15. Connecticut
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,635 (total: 583,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,060 — 14th highest (total: 378,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 123 — 8th highest (total: 44,000)
> Total population: 3,565,287

[in-text-ad]

choness / Getty Images

14. California
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,681 (total: 6,641,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,129 — 13th highest (total: 4,459,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 122 — 10th highest (total: 482,000)
> Total population: 39,512,223

peeterv / Getty Images

13. Montana
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,684 (total: 180,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,254 — 10th highest (total: 134,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 112 — 17th highest (total: 12,000)
> Total population: 1,068,778

ferrantraite / Getty Images

12. New Mexico
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,707 (total: 358,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,035 — 16th highest (total: 217,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 119 — 12th highest (total: 25,000)
> Total population: 2,096,829

[in-text-ad-2]

pawel.gaul / Getty Images

11. Michigan
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,767 (total: 1,765,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,174 — 12th highest (total: 1,172,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 135 — 3rd highest (total: 135,000)
> Total population: 9,986,857

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

10. New Hampshire
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,861 (total: 253,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,221 — 11th highest (total: 166,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 110 — 20th highest (total: 15,000)
> Total population: 1,359,711

[in-text-ad]

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

9. Massachusetts
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,912 (total: 1,318,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,287 — 9th highest (total: 887,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 147 — the highest (total: 101,000)
> Total population: 6,892,503

photoquest7 / Getty Images

8. Nevada
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,990 (total: 613,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,338 — 7th highest (total: 412,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 117 — 14th highest (total: 36,000)
> Total population: 3,080,156

volvob12b / Flickr

7. Alaska
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,996 (total: 146,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,381 — 6th highest (total: 101,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 123 — 9th highest (total: 9,000)
> Total population: 731,545

[in-text-ad-2]

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

6. Rhode Island
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 2,001 (total: 212,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,322 — 8th highest (total: 140,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 132 — 5th highest (total: 14,000)
> Total population: 1,059,361

MarkHatfield / iStock via Getty Images

5. Washington
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 2,133 (total: 1,624,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,480 — 4th highest (total: 1,127,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 138 — 2nd highest (total: 105,000)
> Total population: 7,614,893

[in-text-ad]

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

4. Maine
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 2,150 (total: 289,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,525 — 3rd highest (total: 205,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 126 — 7th highest (total: 17,000)
> Total population: 1,344,212

f11photo / Getty Images

3. Colorado
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 2,197 (total: 1,265,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,452 — 5th highest (total: 836,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 120 — 11th highest (total: 69,000)
> Total population: 5,758,736

4nadia / Getty Images

2. Oregon
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 2,297 (total: 969,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,591 — 2nd highest (total: 671,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 133 — 4th highest (total: 56,000)
> Total population: 4,217,737

[in-text-ad-2]

Jonathanking / Wikimedia Commons

1. Vermont
> Marijuana use (past year) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 2,372 (total: 148,000)
> Marijuana use (past month) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 1,731 — the highest (total: 108,000)
> First marijuana use (past 24 months) per 10,000 people 12 or older: 128 — 6th highest (total: 8,000)
> Total population: 623,989

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.