This Arizona County Smokes More Weed Than Any Other

In the United States, marijuana use is a controversial topic, and different states have different laws about how to legalize it. Some have legalized it for medical or social reasons, while others have made it illegal in any way.

There are big differences in how much marijuana people use, even within the same state. This blog post goes into detail about marijuana use in Arizona. It looks at which county has the highest rate of marijuana use and what factors might be causing this.

Laws About Marijuana in Arizona

It’s important to know the marijuana laws in Arizona before looking at the facts. This state, along with the District of Columbia, is one of 19 that have approved marijuana for both medical and recreational use. ARS 36-2852 says that people aged 21 and up can legally have up to an ounce of marijuana, 5 grams of potent marijuana, or six plants.

But there are some rules, like not being able to smoke marijuana in public places. If you break these rules, you could face fines or criminal charges. Also, people who have been convicted of pot crimes in the past can get their records erased under certain circumstances.

The Use of Marijuana in Arizona

A Gallup poll done over the phone in 2021 found that 12% of American people use cannabis. This number has gone up from 7% in 2013 but is different in each state and county. A 2018 study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 15.6% of people aged 12 and up in Arizona had used marijuana in the past month, ranking the state 14th overall. It’s interesting that Coconino County became the center of attention in Arizona.

Coconino County is Where Most of the Marijuana Use in Arizona Happens

The second-largest county in the U.S. by size, Coconino County is home to about 143,000 people and famous places like Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon National Park, and several Native American reservations.

According to the SAMHSA study, 22.9% of people aged 12 and up in Coconino County said they had used marijuana in the past month, which was the highest rate in Arizona. This was almost 50% higher than the state average and 7.6 percentage points higher than Pima County, which was the next biggest county. Also, 32.4% of people in Coconino County used marijuana in the past year, which was higher than the state average of 23.8%.

Why There is a lot of Marijuana Use in Coconino County

There are a number of reasons why marijuana use is high in Coconino County. The county has a large youth population—26.4% of the total population according to the 2020 census—which is partly due to Northern Arizona University being there. Statistics show that young people are more likely to support legalizing marijuana, which could change how people use it.

Native American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ groups are all part of the county’s progressive and diverse culture, which may make people use marijuana as a way to deal with or resist things. Also, the county has a lot of natural and artistic history. Places to visit like the Grand Canyon, Sedona Red Rocks, and the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy could spark creativity and faith, which could be boosted by marijuana.

Another factor is how easy it is to get weed. Even though Coconino County doesn’t have as many people as Maricopa County, it still has 13 approved dispensaries. The fact that marijuana is cheaper—an eighth of an ounce costs $40 on average, which is less than the $45 average in the state—probably makes more people use it.

In Conclusion

Coconino County is where most people in Arizona use marijuana. This could be because of its population, culture, and ease of access to weed. However, more study is needed to fully understand the effects of marijuana use in the county compared to other areas. The legalization and regulation of marijuana bring about a lot of problems and chances for lawmakers, consumers, and society as a whole.