Cannabis Industry Statistics 2026: Data, Trends & Market Analysis
This resource compiles 150+ statistics from a variety of sources
The legal cannabis industry is at an inflection point. After more than a decade of near-uninterrupted growth, the latest cannabis industry statistics show a market moving into a more complex phase of regulation, price pressure, and consumer normalization. In 2025, U.S. regulated cannabis sales declined year over year for the first time. Federal rescheduling advanced, while a sweeping federal restriction on hemp-derived THC moved toward full enforcement. Fifty percent of Americans have now tried cannabis (Gallup), up from just 4% in 1969.
For dispensary owners and operators, this cannabis industry data isn’t abstract; it shapes decisions on where to expand, how to price, what to stock, and how to staff. This resource compiles 150+ statistics drawn from government surveys, peer-reviewed research, and leading industry reports across topics including cannabis market size, state-by-state sales, dispensary counts, profitability, and more. Every data point is cited, and methodology is explained where figures vary between sources.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. regulated cannabis revenue declined for the first time in 2025, falling to approximately $28.6–$29.6 billion, with 23 states posting sales declines (Whitney Economics); price compression, tax burdens, and competition from hemp-derived THC substitute products were the cited factors
- Only 24.4% of U.S. cannabis operators are profitable on an after-tax basis, compared to 65% of all U.S. small businesses (MJBizDaily / Whitney Economics)
- 87% of Americans support cannabis legalization in some form, while teen use remains near historic lows (Pew Research / Monitoring the Future)
- Roughly 75% of total U.S. cannabis consumption still flows through the illicit market, putting the combined legal and illegal market value around $100 billion (Whitney Economics)
Cannabis Usage Statistics
In 2024, approximately 44.3 million Americans used cannabis in the past month, and 64.2 million reported past-year use, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMHSA NSDUH). The directional trend is clear: use has accelerated steadily since 2021, driven by expanding legal access, shifting cultural attitudes, and an aging population increasingly open to cannabis as a wellness tool.
How Many Americans Use Cannabis?
- 15.4% of Americans age 12 and older used cannabis in the past month in 2024, representing 44.3 million people — up from 13.2% (37 million) in 2021 (SAMHSA NSDUH 2024)
- 22.3% reported past-year use, totaling 64.2 million people (SAMHSA NSDUH 2024)
- 15% of Americans self-identify as current cannabis smokers (Gallup, combined data 2023–2024)
- 47% of Americans have tried cannabis at least once, up from just 4% in 1969 (Gallup)
- Young adults age 18–25 represent the highest-use cohort, with 24.1% reporting past-month use (SAMHSA NSDUH 2024)
- Adolescents age 12–17 reported 6.0% past-month use (SAMHSA NSDUH 2024)
- 38% of current cannabis users vaped cannabis in the past month (SAMHSA NSDUH 2024)
Who Is Using Cannabis?
Usage rates vary significantly by gender, age, region, and political affiliation, according to Gallup’s combined 2023–2024 data:
- Men (17%) are more likely than women (11%) to report current use
- By age group: adults ages 18-34 report 19% usage, middle-aged (35-54) adults 18%, and adults 55 and older 10%
- By region: the West leads at 19%, followed by the Midwest and East at 16%, and the South at 11%
- Democrats (23%) are more than twice as likely as Republicans (10%) to report current use
To Read The Rest Of This Article On COVA, Click Here
