Wyoming is one of the few states in the United States that has not legalized marijuana, either for medicinal or recreational uses. The state enforces some of the most stringent cannabis regulations in the country, imposing harsh penalties for plant possession, growing, and distribution.
Despite these laws, some Wyoming residents continue to consume marijuana for personal or medicinal purposes. This prompted an inquiry into which Wyoming city has the highest rate of pot usage and how it compares to equivalents around the country.
Marijuana Use Statistics in Wyoming
According to a 2021 study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), roughly 8.3% of Wyoming residents aged 12 and up reported marijuana usage in the previous year, which is somewhat lower than the national average of 9.9%. However, this number varies by age category, with young people aged 18 to 25 using marijuana the most in the last year (23.4%), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (10.7%), and adults aged 26 or older (5.6%).
The survey suggests that Wyoming has a lower rate of marijuana dependency or addiction than the national average. Specifically, 1.2% of inhabitants aged 12 and up matched the criteria for marijuana use disorder, compared to a nationwide average of 1.8%. Nonetheless, the state reports a higher proportion of marijuana-related treatment admissions than the national average, with marijuana accounting for 17.1% of total drug misuse treatment admissions, compared to 15.9% nationally.
Identifying the City With the Most Weed Use in Wyoming
According to SAMHSA data, Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital and most populated city, has the highest prevalence of cannabis usage. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Substate Region Estimates, 11.8% of Cheyenne residents aged 12 and older used marijuana in the previous year, higher than the state average of 8.3% and the national average of 9.9%.
Cheyenne Also Reports a Greater Rate of Marijuana
When compared to the state and national norms, 2.1% of inhabitants aged 12 and above met the criteria for marijuana use disorders. This result differs from the statewide rate of 1.2% and the national rate of 1.8%. Despite these statistics, Cheyenne has a lower rate of marijuana-related treatment admissions than the state and national averages, with marijuana accounting for 13.8% of all substance abuse treatment admissions, compared to 17.1% in the state and 15.9% nationally.
Cheyenne in Comparison to Other US Cities
Cheyenne has a modest marijuana usage rate, ranking 142nd out of 384 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the US. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, has the highest past-year marijuana usage rate, at 24.8%, followed by Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO, at 23.5%, and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, at 22.9%.
The cities with the lowest marijuana consumption rates are Provo-Orem, UT, with a past-year marijuana usage rate of 3.2%, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, at 3.6%, and Logan, UT-ID, at 3.8%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wyoming maintains strong marijuana prohibitions, with 8.3% of residents reporting use in the previous year, somewhat lower than the national average. Cheyenne has the greatest prevalence (11.8%), topping both the state and national rates. Despite a higher marijuana use disorder rate (2.1%), Cheyenne had fewer treatment admissions than the state and national norms. Cheyenne has the 142nd-highest rate of marijuana usage among American cities. While marijuana use is low in Cheyenne, the city’s statistics reveal important information about Wyoming’s distinct attitude on cannabis in the face of changing national trends.