Cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed, pot, or grass, is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances in the world. According to a 2021 Gallup survey, 12% of American adults smoke cannabis, and 45% of them have tried it at least once.
Cannabis consumption varies across different states and cities, depending on the legal status, availability, price, and social acceptance of the plant. In this article, we will explore which city in Virginia has the highest weed consumption in the U.S., and how it compares to other cities across the country.
Virginia’s Cannabis Laws
Virginia is one of the 19 states that have legalized both medical and recreational cannabis use, along with the District of Columbia. The state legalized medical cannabis in 2018, and recreational cannabis in 2021, making it the first southern state to do so.
Adults 21 years and older can possess up to one ounce of cannabis, and grow up to four plants per household. The state also allows the establishment of retail stores, cultivation facilities, and testing labs, which are expected to start operating by 2024.
Virginia’s Cannabis Consumption
According to a 2020 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Virginia ranked 25th among the 50 states in terms of past-month cannabis use among people aged 12 and older, with a rate of 11.9%.
This is slightly lower than the national average of 13.6%. However, Virginia ranked 10th among the states in terms of past-year cannabis use, with a rate of 20.4%, which is higher than the national average of 18.1%. This suggests that Virginia has a relatively high number of occasional or infrequent cannabis users, compared to other states.
The Most Weed-Friendly City in Virginia
Among the cities in Virginia, the most weed-friendly one is Richmond, the state capital. Richmond has the highest rate of past-month cannabis use among people aged 12 and older, at 15.7%, which is higher than the state and national averages. Richmond also has the highest rate of past-year cannabis use, at 25.9%, which is also higher than the state and national averages .
Richmond has a long history of cannabis activism and advocacy, dating back to the 1970s, when the city hosted the first Virginia Marijuana Conference . The city also has a vibrant cannabis culture, with several dispensaries, delivery services, and events catering to cannabis enthusiasts.
The Most Weed-Consuming City in The U.S.
While Richmond may be the most weed-friendly city in Virginia, it is not the most weed-consuming city in the U.S. According to a 2018 study by Seedo, a cannabis company, the city that consumed the most cannabis in the U.S. was New York City, with 77.44 metric tons .
New York City was followed by Los Angeles, with 36.06 metric tons, and Chicago, with 24.54 metric tons . The study ranked 120 cities around the world based on their annual cannabis consumption, legal status, and price per gram. The study also estimated the potential tax revenue that each city could generate from legalizing cannabis, based on the average tax rate in the U.S. .
Conclusion
Cannabis is a popular and widely used substance in the U.S., with varying levels of consumption across different states and cities. Virginia is one of the states that have legalized both medical and recreational cannabis use, and Richmond is the most weed-friendly city in the state.
However, Richmond is not the most weed-consuming city in the U.S., as New York City holds that title, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago. Cannabis legalization has many implications for the economy, society, and public health, and it is important to monitor and evaluate its impacts and outcomes.