Wyoming stands as one of the few states in the United States that has not embraced the legalization of marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes. Enforcing some of the strictest cannabis laws in the nation, the state imposes severe penalties for the possession, cultivation, and distribution of the plant.
Despite these regulations, a portion of Wyoming residents continues to use marijuana, either for personal or medical reasons. This prompts an inquiry into which city in Wyoming exhibits the highest rate of weed consumption and how it compares to counterparts across the nation.
Marijuana Consumption Statistics in Wyoming
As per a 2021 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 8.3% of Wyoming residents aged 12 or older reported marijuana use in the past year, slightly below the national average of 9.9%.
However, this percentage varies across age groups, with young adults aged 18 to 25 leading in past-year marijuana use at 23.4%, followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 at 10.7%, and adults aged 26 or older at 5.6%.
The report indicates that Wyoming exhibits a lower rate of marijuana dependence or abuse compared to the national average. Specifically, 1.2% of residents aged 12 or older met the criteria for marijuana use disorder, in contrast to the national rate of 1.8%.
Nevertheless, the state reports a higher rate of marijuana-related treatment admissions than the national average, with marijuana as the primary substance of abuse in 17.1% of all substance abuse treatment admissions, as opposed to the national figure of 15.9%.
Identifying the City with the Highest Weed Consumption in Wyoming
Analyzing SAMHSA data, Cheyenne, the capital and most populous city in Wyoming, emerges as the city with the highest weed consumption rate. The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Substate Region Estimates indicates a past-year marijuana use rate of 11.8% among Cheyenne residents aged 12 or older, surpassing the state average of 8.3% and the national average of 9.9%.
Cheyenne also records a higher rate of marijuana dependence or abuse compared to both state and national averages, with 2.1% of residents aged 12 or older meeting the criteria for marijuana use disorder. This figure contrasts with the statewide rate of 1.2% and the nationwide rate of 1.8%.
However, despite these statistics, Cheyenne reports a lower rate of marijuana-related treatment admissions compared to both state and national averages, with marijuana as the primary substance of abuse in 13.8% of all substance abuse treatment admissions, in contrast to the state’s 17.1% and the nation’s 15.9%.
Cheyenne in Comparison to Other U.S. Cities
In the realm of marijuana consumption, Cheyenne holds a moderate position, ranking 142nd out of 384 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States. For perspective, cities with the highest weed consumption rates include San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, with a past-year marijuana use rate of 24.8%, followed by Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO, at 23.5%, and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, at 22.9%.
Conversely, cities with the lowest marijuana consumption rates feature Provo-Orem, UT, with a past-year marijuana use rate of 3.2%, followed by McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, at 3.6%, and Logan, UT-ID, at 3.8%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Wyoming maintains stringent marijuana laws, particularly in Cheyenne, the state capital, residents continue to engage in marijuana use. Cheyenne exhibits a higher weed consumption rate compared to state and national averages but falls below some of the more cannabis-friendly cities in the United States. Notably, the city reports a higher rate of marijuana dependence or abuse but a lower rate of marijuana-related treatment admissions.