The Average Cost of Marijuana by State

Marijuana is a relatively commonly used substance in the United States. According to federal government estimates, 22.2 million Americans have used it in the past month and many start using it in their adolescent years. Furthermore, many states have legalized the use of the substance at some level over the past few years. Some, such as New Mexico and New York, have it legalized only for medical use, while others, such as California and Vermont, have enacted laws permitting recreational use by state citizens.

Because the use of this substance is so widespread, we decided to take a closer look at how the cost of marijuana varies across U.S. states. We used a widely-cited national price directory to compile the average price of high- and medium-quality marijuana for each state. We looked at the price for two amounts: one ounce and one “joint” (as defined by a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study). Our results show a notable difference among states based on their legalization status — read on for all of the findings.

Average Cost: One Ounce of High Quality Marijuana

First we looked at the average price of high quality marijuana (one ounce). Interestingly, the District of Columbia is the most expensive by a significant margin. The three with the highest average price are District of Columbia ($597.88), North Dakota ($383.60), and Virginia ($364.89). These are places where marijuana use is somewhat restricted: In D.C. it is illegal to purchase, in North Dakota it’s only legal for medical use, and in Virginia it’s not legal at any level. The three least expensive states for marijuana, however, are all in the West region and all allow for legal recreational use: Oregon ($210.75), Washington ($232.90), and Colorado ($241.74). The national average is $326.06.

Average Cost: One Ounce of Medium Quality Marijuana

Next, we looked at the average cost for medium quality marijuana (one ounce). The District is still the most expensive place, but the next two states are not the same as the order for high quality marijuana: District of Columbia ($550.66), South Dakota ($335.26), and Minnesota ($330.52). The places with the cheapest prices are Mississippi ($170.22), Oregon ($187.09), and Washington ($196.82). The national average is $265.58.

Average Cost: One “Joint” of High Quality Marijuana

We also wanted to look at these costs in a different amount: one “joint.” A recent U.S. HHS study estimates one to be 0.66 grams, so we based this calculation off of that figure. The three most expensive states for high quality marijuana are District of Columbia ($13.92), North Dakota ($8.93), and Virginia ($8.49), while the three cheapest are Oregon ($4.91), Washington ($5.42), and Colorado ($5.63). The national average is $7.59.

Average Cost: One “Joint” of Medium Quality Marijuana

Finally, we looked at the prices for medium quality in the amount of one “joint.” Again, Washington, D.C. ranks as the most expensive ($12.82), followed by South Dakota ($7.81) and Minnesota ($7.69). The three least expensive are Mississippi ($3.96), Oregon ($4.36), and Washington ($4.58), and the national average is $6.18.

Breakdown Overview of The Average Cost of Marijuana

Beyond being an addictive substance that causes inebriation, legal for use or not, the use of cannabis has been linked with negative mental health outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cannabis use has been connected with “the development of schizophrenia and other psychoses,” higher likelihood to have thoughts of suicide, higher risk of social anxiety disorder, and other negative effects.

The treatment of these co-occurring conditions — marijuana abuse and mental health disorders — is a special focus of our treatment center in Etta, Mississippi. If you’re concerned someone you know is dealing with any type of substance use disorder, or you would like help with yours, we can help.

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