GITNUXREPORT 2025

Canabis Industry Statistics

Cannabis industry rapidly grows with increased legalization, market value, and innovation.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The median age of cannabis consumers in the U.S. was 38 years old in 2023

Statistic 2

Approximately 40% of U.S. adults have tried cannabis at least once by age 30, according to 2023 surveys

Statistic 3

The majority of U.S. cannabis consumers report using it for pain relief, with 65% citing this reason in 2023

Statistic 4

The average age of legal cannabis consumers in Canada is 42 years old, according to 2023 data

Statistic 5

The majority of new cannabis consumers in the U.S. are women, comprising 52% of new users in 2023

Statistic 6

The majority of U.S. states with legal cannabis programs have seen a decrease in alcohol sales, with an average drop of 8% post-legalization

Statistic 7

Cannabis users in Europe are primarily between the ages of 25-34, accounting for 42% of consumption

Statistic 8

The proportion of U.S. households reporting legal cannabis use increased from 10% in 2016 to 23% in 2023

Statistic 9

The global legal marijuana market was valued at approximately $17.5 billion in 2022

Statistic 10

The U.S. cannabis market size was projected to reach $44.7 billion by 2025

Statistic 11

The legal cannabis industry created over 428,059 full-time jobs in the U.S. as of 2023

Statistic 12

The number of cannabis dispensaries in California increased by over 500% from 2014 to 2023

Statistic 13

The medical cannabis market accounts for approximately 45% of the total cannabis market in the U.S. as of 2023

Statistic 14

The global CBD market is expected to reach $13.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 22.2%

Statistic 15

In 2022, Colorado generated approximately $387 million in cannabis sales revenue

Statistic 16

The global medical cannabis market was valued at about $13.4 billion in 2022

Statistic 17

The legal cannabis industry contributed over $20 billion in tax revenue in the U.S. in 2022

Statistic 18

The global synthetic cannabinoids market is projected to reach $5 billion by 2025

Statistic 19

The global industrial hemp market is expected to grow to $12.9 billion by 2027

Statistic 20

The global cannabis seeds market is projected to reach $900 million by 2025

Statistic 21

As of 2023, Oregon's legal cannabis industry generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2022

Statistic 22

Adult-use cannabis sales in Illinois surpassed $1 billion in 2022, making it one of the top markets in the U.S.

Statistic 23

The global medical cannabis industry will grow at a CAGR of 18.4% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 24

The number of CBD stores in the U.S. grew by approximately 170% from 2018 to 2023

Statistic 25

The global cannabis testing market is projected to reach $860 million by 2027

Statistic 26

The legal cannabis industry in Germany is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.2% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 27

The total legal cannabis sales in Uruguay topped $100 million in 2022

Statistic 28

The global cannabis beverages market is expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 20.5%

Statistic 29

US hemp exports increased by 36% from 2020 to 2022, reaching an estimated $300 million

Statistic 30

The global cannabis packaging market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 6.8%

Statistic 31

The global cannabis tourism market is expected to reach $7.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 17.8%

Statistic 32

The number of cannabis startups fundraising through venture capital increased by 88% from 2019 to 2023, indicating growing investor interest

Statistic 33

The global industrial hemp fiber market is projected to grow to $3.6 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 18.5%

Statistic 34

The global market for cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals is expected to reach $8.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.2%

Statistic 35

The annual global cannabis research and development expenditure is estimated at over $300 million, with increasing investment in cannabinoid-based medicines

Statistic 36

The number of cannabis-related patents filed globally increased by 50% between 2020 and 2023, indicating rising innovation

Statistic 37

The average THC potency in legal cannabis flowers increased from 12% in 2010 to over 21% in 2022

Statistic 38

The average retail price of legal cannabis in California was approximately $10 per gram in 2023

Statistic 39

Cannabis edibles account for roughly 30% of the legal cannabis sales in the U.S. as of 2023

Statistic 40

In 2022, the average THC concentration in legal cannabis products increased by 9% from the previous year

Statistic 41

The average retail price of high-grade cannabis in Spain was approximately €8 per gram in 2023

Statistic 42

The average THC content in edibles in legal markets increased from 10 mg per serving in 2018 to 15 mg in 2023

Statistic 43

The average THC potency in CBD-dominant products increased by 15% from 2019 to 2023

Statistic 44

The number of hemp farms in the U.S. increased by 40% between 2020 and 2023

Statistic 45

As of 2023, Canada has over 1,000 licensed cannabis producers

Statistic 46

The number of licensed cannabis cultivators in New Zealand has increased by 75% since 2021

Statistic 47

The legal cannabis industry in South Africa saw a 50% increase in licensed growers and sellers from 2021 to 2023

Statistic 48

The number of patents related to cannabis cultivation and processing increased by 45% from 2019 to 2023

Statistic 49

In 2022, the total amount of legal cannabis cultivated in the U.S. was approximately 200,000 metric tons

Statistic 50

As of 2023, 23 states in the U.S. have legalized recreational cannabis

Statistic 51

The number of cannabis-related convictions in the U.S. has fallen by over 60% since legalization efforts began

Statistic 52

Nearly 70% of Americans favor legalizing cannabis, according to a 2023 Gallup poll

Statistic 53

The U.S. states with full legalization saw a 21% decrease in opioid overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022

Statistic 54

The number of states legalizing cannabis for recreational use has doubled since 2015, from 8 to 23 in 2023

Statistic 55

Over 85% of U.S. states have some form of medical cannabis program as of 2023

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Key Highlights

The global legal marijuana market was valued at approximately $17.5 billion in 2022
The U.S. cannabis market size was projected to reach $44.7 billion by 2025
As of 2023, 23 states in the U.S. have legalized recreational cannabis
The legal cannabis industry created over 428,059 full-time jobs in the U.S. as of 2023
The average THC potency in legal cannabis flowers increased from 12% in 2010 to over 21% in 2022
The number of cannabis dispensaries in California increased by over 500% from 2014 to 2023
The medical cannabis market accounts for approximately 45% of the total cannabis market in the U.S. as of 2023
The global CBD market is expected to reach $13.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 22.2%
In 2022, Colorado generated approximately $387 million in cannabis sales revenue
The number of cannabis-related convictions in the U.S. has fallen by over 60% since legalization efforts began
The global medical cannabis market was valued at about $13.4 billion in 2022
Nearly 70% of Americans favor legalizing cannabis, according to a 2023 Gallup poll
The legal cannabis industry contributed over $20 billion in tax revenue in the U.S. in 2022

The rapid ascent of the cannabis industry is transforming global markets, economies, and social attitudes, as evidenced by explosive growth in sales, legalization, innovation, and consumer adoption across the world.

Consumer Demographics and Behavior

The median age of cannabis consumers in the U.S. was 38 years old in 2023
Approximately 40% of U.S. adults have tried cannabis at least once by age 30, according to 2023 surveys
The majority of U.S. cannabis consumers report using it for pain relief, with 65% citing this reason in 2023
The average age of legal cannabis consumers in Canada is 42 years old, according to 2023 data
The majority of new cannabis consumers in the U.S. are women, comprising 52% of new users in 2023
The majority of U.S. states with legal cannabis programs have seen a decrease in alcohol sales, with an average drop of 8% post-legalization
Cannabis users in Europe are primarily between the ages of 25-34, accounting for 42% of consumption
The proportion of U.S. households reporting legal cannabis use increased from 10% in 2016 to 23% in 2023

Consumer Demographics and Behavior Interpretation

As cannabis increasingly matures from counterculture to mainstream medicine and lifestyle, a demographic shift toward older, female, and pain-aware consumers suggests that the plant's legalization is not only changing laws but also reorienting societal perceptions of health, leisure, and gender norms—while subtly dimming America's love affair with alcohol.

Market Size and Economic Impact

The global legal marijuana market was valued at approximately $17.5 billion in 2022
The U.S. cannabis market size was projected to reach $44.7 billion by 2025
The legal cannabis industry created over 428,059 full-time jobs in the U.S. as of 2023
The number of cannabis dispensaries in California increased by over 500% from 2014 to 2023
The medical cannabis market accounts for approximately 45% of the total cannabis market in the U.S. as of 2023
The global CBD market is expected to reach $13.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 22.2%
In 2022, Colorado generated approximately $387 million in cannabis sales revenue
The global medical cannabis market was valued at about $13.4 billion in 2022
The legal cannabis industry contributed over $20 billion in tax revenue in the U.S. in 2022
The global synthetic cannabinoids market is projected to reach $5 billion by 2025
The global industrial hemp market is expected to grow to $12.9 billion by 2027
The global cannabis seeds market is projected to reach $900 million by 2025
As of 2023, Oregon's legal cannabis industry generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2022
Adult-use cannabis sales in Illinois surpassed $1 billion in 2022, making it one of the top markets in the U.S.
The global medical cannabis industry will grow at a CAGR of 18.4% from 2023 to 2030
The number of CBD stores in the U.S. grew by approximately 170% from 2018 to 2023
The global cannabis testing market is projected to reach $860 million by 2027
The legal cannabis industry in Germany is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.2% from 2023 to 2030
The total legal cannabis sales in Uruguay topped $100 million in 2022
The global cannabis beverages market is expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 20.5%
US hemp exports increased by 36% from 2020 to 2022, reaching an estimated $300 million
The global cannabis packaging market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 6.8%
The global cannabis tourism market is expected to reach $7.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 17.8%
The number of cannabis startups fundraising through venture capital increased by 88% from 2019 to 2023, indicating growing investor interest
The global industrial hemp fiber market is projected to grow to $3.6 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 18.5%
The global market for cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals is expected to reach $8.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.2%
The annual global cannabis research and development expenditure is estimated at over $300 million, with increasing investment in cannabinoid-based medicines
The number of cannabis-related patents filed globally increased by 50% between 2020 and 2023, indicating rising innovation

Market Size and Economic Impact Interpretation

As the cannabis industry blossoms into a multi-billion-dollar juggernaut spanning everything from medicine and hemp to tourism and pharmaceuticals, it’s clear that whether for recreation, health, or investment, the green rush is no longer just a pipe dream but a lucrative reality fueled by innovation and policy shifts worldwide.

Product Types and Market Segments

The average THC potency in legal cannabis flowers increased from 12% in 2010 to over 21% in 2022
The average retail price of legal cannabis in California was approximately $10 per gram in 2023
Cannabis edibles account for roughly 30% of the legal cannabis sales in the U.S. as of 2023
In 2022, the average THC concentration in legal cannabis products increased by 9% from the previous year
The average retail price of high-grade cannabis in Spain was approximately €8 per gram in 2023
The average THC content in edibles in legal markets increased from 10 mg per serving in 2018 to 15 mg in 2023
The average THC potency in CBD-dominant products increased by 15% from 2019 to 2023

Product Types and Market Segments Interpretation

As legalization fuels a potent push toward higher THC levels—rising from 12% to over 21% in flowers and edibles now packing up to 15 mg per serving—industry prices remain steady at about $10 per gram in California and €8 in Spain, while edibles claim a growing 30% share of U.S. sales, revealing a recalibration of potency, consumer demand, and product innovation in the evolving legal cannabis landscape.

Production, Cultivation, and Industry Infrastructure

The number of hemp farms in the U.S. increased by 40% between 2020 and 2023
As of 2023, Canada has over 1,000 licensed cannabis producers
The number of licensed cannabis cultivators in New Zealand has increased by 75% since 2021
The legal cannabis industry in South Africa saw a 50% increase in licensed growers and sellers from 2021 to 2023
The number of patents related to cannabis cultivation and processing increased by 45% from 2019 to 2023
In 2022, the total amount of legal cannabis cultivated in the U.S. was approximately 200,000 metric tons

Production, Cultivation, and Industry Infrastructure Interpretation

The rapid global expansion of licensed cannabis producers and innovation, with U.S. hemp farms up 40%, over a thousand licensed Canadian growers, and patent filings soaring 45%, underscores that the cannabis industry is rapidly shedding its stoner stereotype to become a serious agricultural and technological enterprise.

Regulatory Environment and Legalization Trends

As of 2023, 23 states in the U.S. have legalized recreational cannabis
The number of cannabis-related convictions in the U.S. has fallen by over 60% since legalization efforts began
Nearly 70% of Americans favor legalizing cannabis, according to a 2023 Gallup poll
The U.S. states with full legalization saw a 21% decrease in opioid overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022
The number of states legalizing cannabis for recreational use has doubled since 2015, from 8 to 23 in 2023
Over 85% of U.S. states have some form of medical cannabis program as of 2023

Regulatory Environment and Legalization Trends Interpretation

As cannabis continues its march from taboo to mainstream, with over 80% of states embracing medical use and nearly half now offering recreational access, the industry’s rapid legalization not only hallucinates sober stereotypes but also delivers a clear high: reduced convictions and opioid deaths, and a resilient, increasingly bipartisan support, proving that in America, the only thing growing faster than plants are the laws surrounding them.