Here’s Why New England Appears on the Top 15 List for Consuming the Most Marijuana in America

Weed. Pot. Grass. Dope. Herb. Mary Jane. Reefer. Marijuana.  It doesn't matter what you call it, it's no surprise that the cannabis industry makes the news quite often.  We're literally watching it become mainstream across the country as it continues to become legal in some capacity.  According to the Center for Advancing Health, marijuana is fully legal in 22 states, including all of New England (except New Hampshire). Then there are six states where it's totally illegal.

Anyway, it's estimated that the cannabis industry will be a nearly $32 billion industry by the end of this year as it continues to grow, according to Insider Monkey. Now, obviously the growth comes from the acceptance and continued use in legal states, whether it be medicinal or recreational, and Insider Monkey says new states passing legality laws each year will help the growth.  Just this year, Connecticut, Maryland, and Mississippi did just that.

So which states and cities are contributing to the growth by consuming the most marijuana in the country?  Insider Monkey says it collected data from cities with a population of at least 200,000, and not all of the cities that made the list are major cities.  However, for New England, our largest city did, as Boston ranking #12.  According to Insider Monkey, Boston smokes and eats more than three-and-a-half tons of the stuff, and it's only growing since the first dispensary opened in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 2018.  According to Insider Monkey, recreational use is a $4 billion industry, already grossing $600 million in the first half of 2023.