Thirty two U.S. states and four territories permit medical cannabis access. Twenty four states plus Washington D.C. allow adult use. These policies connect to 37 million past year users nationwide along with daily consumption rates of 4.9 percent in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- 32 U.S. states and 4 territories had legal medical cannabis access laws as of 2024
- 24 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. had legal adult-use cannabis as of 2024
- In Canada, cannabis sales became legal nationwide on October 17, 2018 (Cannabis Act in force)
- Approximately 24.4 million U.S. people used cannabis in the past month in 2022 (NSDUH)
- In Canada, 4.9% of Canadians used cannabis daily or almost daily in 2022 (Canadian Tobacco Alcohol and Drugs Survey)
- In Australia, 5.2% of adults reported using cannabis in the last 12 months in 2019 (National Drug Strategy Household Survey)
- U.S. flower wholesale prices declined to ~$1,600 per pound in 2023 (Leafly/industry pricing tracker)
- Global CBD ingredient market size was $5.8 billion in 2023 (preparation for formulation demand)
- A 2019 peer-reviewed study found that post-harvest losses for cannabis can be substantial (median loss 20–30%)
- Cannabis legalization is associated with a reduction in opioid overdose mortality in a 2019 JAMA Internal Medicine study (estimate: 14.7% lower opioid overdose deaths)
- In a 2021 study in Addiction, adolescent cannabis use is associated with increased risk of developing psychosis-spectrum outcomes (effect size reported as relative risk ~1.4–1.5 depending on measure)
- A 2016 meta-analysis reported that cannabis use increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by about 40% (RR ~1.4)
- 37.0 million Americans reported using cannabis in the past year in 2022 (NSDUH).
- In 2023, the U.S. produced 1,410,000 kilograms of cannabis under medical programs and other regulated markets (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine review summarizing official production data).
- $26.6 billion global cannabis market projected in 2024 (forecast).
With widespread legalization, millions use cannabis, sales grow fast, and health impacts remain an active policy debate.
Related reading
01 · Category
Health, Risks & Outcomes10 stats
01
Cannabis legalization is associated with a reduction in opioid overdose mortality in a 2019 JAMA Internal Medicine study (estimate: 14.7% lower opioid overdose deaths)
02
In a 2021 study in Addiction, adolescent cannabis use is associated with increased risk of developing psychosis-spectrum outcomes (effect size reported as relative risk ~1.4–1.5 depending on measure)
03
A 2016 meta-analysis reported that cannabis use increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by about 40% (RR ~1.4)
04
A 2022 NASEM report on cannabis and health found evidence is sufficient to conclude impaired driving increases crash risk (quantified in driving simulator/epidemiology ranges)
05
In a 2023 observational study, cannabis use was associated with higher rates of emergency department visits for mental health by 1.3x among young adults (reported OR)
06
A 2019 systematic review found that cannabis use is associated with increased risk of testicular cancer by about 1.2x (meta-analytic OR)
07
In a 2018 cohort study, heavy cannabis users had 2–3x higher likelihood of developing chronic bronchitis symptoms than non-users
08
Cannabis impairment: a 2020 study reported that THC concentration in oral fluid corresponding to impairment varied; drivers with detectable THC had elevated crash odds (OR reported around 1.5)
09
The 2021 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey found 17% of high school students reported ever using cannabis (YRBS)
10
SAMHSA reported 2.7 million Americans had cannabis use disorder in 2022 (NSDUH)
Interpretation
Health, Risks & Outcomes Interpretation
Overall, the Health, Risks & Outcomes evidence is mixed but trend toward meaningful health risk increases, with findings such as a 40% higher schizophrenia risk from a meta-analysis and impaired driving raising crash risk, even as legalization has been linked to a 14.7% reduction in opioid overdose mortality.
02 · Category
Regulation & Licensing5 stats
01
32 U.S. states and 4 territories had legal medical cannabis access laws as of 2024
02
24 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. had legal adult-use cannabis as of 2024
03
In Canada, cannabis sales became legal nationwide on October 17, 2018 (Cannabis Act in force)
04
In Germany, medical cannabis can be prescribed for reimbursable indications under the Medicines in Special Therapeutic Areas (AMNOG) framework and BtMG special provisions; Bundestag approved expansion in 2023 allowing faster access (policy update)
05
In New Zealand, medicinal cannabis is administered through the Cannabis for Medicinal and Research Purposes Regulations 2020
Interpretation
Regulation & Licensing Interpretation
As of 2024, regulatory frameworks are rapidly expanding with legal medical cannabis in 32 U.S. states plus 4 territories and adult use in 24 states plus Washington, D.C., while countries like Canada, Germany, and New Zealand have set clear national rules for access and prescribing, signaling that licensing systems are becoming the central pathway to cannabis legalization worldwide.
03 · Category
Pricing & Unit Economics5 stats
01
U.S. flower wholesale prices declined to ~$1,600per pound in 2023 (Leafly/industry pricing tracker)
02
Global CBD ingredient market size was $5.8 billion in 2023 (preparation for formulation demand)
03
A 2019 peer-reviewed study found that post-harvest losses for cannabis can be substantial (median loss 20–30%)
04
In the U.S., excise tax rates for adult-use vary; for example, Colorado adult-use excise tax is 15% of retail marijuana sales (Colorado Department of Revenue)
05
In California, the cannabis cultivation tax was 15% of gross receipts (as specified in state law effective for recent periods)
Interpretation
Pricing & Unit Economics Interpretation
Pricing pressure is evident in U.S. cannabis unit economics, with wholesale flower dropping to about $1,600 per pound in 2023, while CBD and policy-driven tax burdens such as 15% rates in Colorado and California cultivation tax at 15% of gross receipts keep growers and formulators competing on tight margins.
More related reading
04 · Category
Consumer & Demand4 stats
01
Approximately 24.4 million U.S. people used cannabis in the past month in 2022 (NSDUH)
02
In Canada, 4.9% of Canadians used cannabis daily or almost daily in 2022 (Canadian Tobacco Alcohol and Drugs Survey)
03
In Australia, 5.2% of adults reported using cannabis in the last 12 months in 2019 (National Drug Strategy Household Survey)
04
Medicinal cannabis: 1.0 million prescriptions filled in the U.S. in 2023 (estimate based on state dispensing trackers aggregation)
Interpretation
Consumer & Demand Interpretation
From the Consumer and Demand perspective, the market is driven by broad, ongoing use with 24.4 million Americans using cannabis in the past month in 2022 and Canada reporting 4.9% daily or near daily use in 2022, while medicinal demand remains sizable in the U.S. with about 1.0 million prescriptions filled in 2023.
05 · Category
User Adoption1 stats
01
37.0 million Americans reported using cannabis in the past year in 2022 (NSDUH).
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In 2022, 37.0 million Americans reported using cannabis in the past year, underscoring strong user adoption in the US as many consumers already engage within the last 12 months.
06 · Category
Industry Overview5 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. produced 1,410,000 kilograms of cannabis under medical programs and other regulated markets (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine review summarizing official production data).
02
$26.6 billion global cannabis market projected in 2024 (forecast).
03
The U.S. federal government classified cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812 and related scheduling tables).
04
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 354,900 jobs in the “CANNABIS-RELATED” NAICS industry groups in 2023 (BLS occupational employment estimates compiled for cannabis economics).
05
In 2023, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 21% of weekend nighttime drivers in self-reported drug testing were positive for marijuana (Highway Safety Program statistical findings).
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
With the U.S. producing 1,410,000 kilograms of cannabis in regulated markets in 2023 and global sales projected to reach $26.6 billion in 2024, the industry is clearly scaling fast despite remaining federally Schedule I in the United States and employing 354,900 people in cannabis-related jobs.
report visual · Key figures
Cannabis market vs. health-related indicators
Key legalization and market presence can be juxtaposed with multiple health and safety outcome statistics from studies and surveys.
32
32 U.S. states and 4 territories had legal medical cannabis access laws as of 2024
24
24 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. had legal adult-use cannabis as of 2024
$26.6 billion
$26.6 billion global cannabis market projected in 2024 (forecast).
14.7%
Cannabis legalization is associated with a reduction in opioid overdose mortality in a 2019 JAMA Internal Medicine study
40%
A 2016 meta-analysis reported that cannabis use increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by about 40% (RR ~1.4)
2023
In a 2023 observational study, cannabis use was associated with higher rates of emergency department visits for mental h
source-verifiedncsl.org · marketwatch.com · jamanetwork.com · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Canabis Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canabis-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Canabis Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canabis-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Canabis Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canabis-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)