The majority of Americans now live in a state that has legalized adult-use or medical cannabis, a new Pew Research Center analysis indicates. In addition, nearly 80% of U.S. residents also have at least one cannabis dispensary in their county.
“According to our analysis, 74% of Americans live in a state where marijuana is legal for either recreational or medical use,” Caleb Keller, a communications assistant with Pew Research Center told High Times.
“Our analysis finds that around three-quarters of all dispensaries in the country are in states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana,” the Pew Research Center reports. “Another 23% are in medical marijuana-only states. In fact, two of the top five states with the largest number of dispensaries—Oklahoma and Florida—allow the drug for medical use only.”
In addition, nearly 80% of Americans live in a county with at least one cannabis dispensary. Even for people that live in states and areas that don’t allow cannabis, dispensaries near state borders are also thriving, often next to states with less permissive cannabis laws.
Marijuana is illegal under federal law, but most Americans now live in a jurisdiction where the drug is legal at the state level. And