Los Angeles, CA: Survey data compiled by the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD reports that most consumers residing in state-legal markets obtain their marijuana from licensed regulators, not from the unregulated market.
Specifically, 77 percent of respondents said that they obtained “all” or “most” of their cannabis-related products from authorized retailers. Only six percent of respondents acknowledged acquiring marijuana exclusively from the unregulated marketplace.
The findings are consistent with those of a 2023 survey conducted by New Frontier Data, which similarly reported that most consumers in legal states obtain cannabis from licensed establishments.
Survey data from Canada, which legalized retail cannabis sales in 2018, shows similar results – with the percentage of consumers who report obtaining cannabis from licensed providers rising year over year.
“These data indicate that the legal, regulated cannabis market is displacing the underground marketplace,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Consumers are becoming more comfortable with and more reliant upon licensed retailers – who offer greater convenience, product quality, and safety.”
Additional information is available from NuggMD.