Legal marijuana sales reached nearly $2.5 billion nationwide in May, but the states generating the most overall revenue were not always the states with the highest sales when adjusted for population.
Using May sales data compiled by The Marijuana Herald and the latest available U.S. Census Bureau state population estimates, Michigan had the highest per capita marijuana sales among recreational cannabis states, with roughly $25.47 in legal marijuana sales per resident during the month. Montana followed at $24.20 per resident, while New Mexico, Missouri and Massachusetts each topped $20 per resident.
The figures obviously do not mean each resident purchased marijuana in May. Instead, the ranking divides each state’s total legal marijuana sales for the month by its estimated population, providing a clearer look at market size relative to the number of residents.
Below are the states ranked from highest to lowest per capita marijuana sales in May.
Michigan
May Sales: $258 million
Estimated Population: 10,127,884
Per Capita Sales: $25.47 per resident
Montana
May Sales: $27.7 million
Estimated Population: 1,144,694
Per Capita Sales: $24.20 per resident
New Mexico
May Sales: $48 million
Estimated Population: 2,125,498
Per Capita Sales: $22.58 per resident
Missouri
May Sales: $135 million
Estimated Population: 6,270,541
Per Capita Sales: $21.53 per resident
Massachusetts
May Sales: $150 million
Estimated Population: 7,154,084
Per Capita Sales: $20.97 per resident
Oregon
May Sales: $78 million
Estimated Population: 4,273,586
Per Capita Sales: $18.25 per resident
Vermont
May Sales: $11 million
Estimated Population: 644,663
Per Capita Sales: $17.06 per resident
Colorado
May Sales: $100 million
Estimated Population: 6,012,561
Per Capita Sales: $16.63 per resident
Maryland
May Sales: $102 million
Estimated Population: 6,265,347
Per Capita Sales: $16.28 per resident
Nevada
May Sales: $52 million
Estimated Population: 3,282,188
Per Capita Sales: $15.84 per resident
Maine
May Sales: $20 million
Estimated Population: 1,414,874
Per Capita Sales: $14.14 per resident
Arizona
May Sales: $101 million
Estimated Population: 7,623,818
Per Capita Sales: $13.25 per resident
Washington
May Sales: $89 million
Estimated Population: 8,001,020
Per Capita Sales: $11.12 per resident
New Jersey
May Sales: $100 million
Estimated Population: 9,548,215
Per Capita Sales: $10.47 per resident
Delaware
May Sales: $11 million
Estimated Population: 1,059,952
Per Capita Sales: $10.38 per resident
Illinois
May Sales: $130 million
Estimated Population: 12,719,141
Per Capita Sales: $10.22 per resident
Rhode Island
May Sales: $11 million
Estimated Population: 1,114,521
Per Capita Sales: $9.87 per resident
Ohio
May Sales: $107 million
Estimated Population: 11,900,510
Per Capita Sales: $8.99 per resident
New York
May Sales: $165 million
Estimated Population: 20,002,427
Per Capita Sales: $8.25 per resident
California
May Sales: $310 million
Estimated Population: 39,355,309
Per Capita Sales: $7.88 per resident
Connecticut
May Sales: $25 million
Estimated Population: 3,688,496
Per Capita Sales: $6.78 per resident
Minnesota
May Sales: $26 million
Estimated Population: 5,830,405
Per Capita Sales: $4.46 per resident
