Cannabis is still considered an illegal Schedule I drug by the U.S. government. However, many states have legalized its use for medical and recreational purposes. California was the first state that legalized marijuana for medical use.
As of Apr. 24, 2023, 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Delaware became the latest state to legalize cannabis, making the total number of states where adults can legally consume recreational marijuana 22.
Michigan was the tenth state to legalize marijuana for adults in 2018 and the first state in the Midwest to do so. Now you can find a dispensary within a short drive in Michigan.
In 2020, Verilife, which operates dispensaries in several states, determined how many marijuana dispensaries are in every state per capita. At that time the study found that Michigan had 1.7 dispensaries per 100,000 people. The state also contributed around $2.4 million in marijuana taxes, said the study. Michigan ranked number 9 on their list for most dispensaries at the time of the study.
According to Statista, a data company, Michigan ranked among 36 states for the most number of dispensary licenses in the U.S. Overall, the state made the top 5 at number 5 with 484 dispensary licenses.
While states like Alaska, Arizona, California, and Colorado collected the most cannabis tax revenue last year, they followed behind the state with the most dispensary licenses. That state happens to be Oklahoma which has over 2,300 licenses for cannabis.