This City in Washington is Smoking More Weed Than Anywhere Else in the State
Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that comes from the cannabis plant and is also known as marijuana, weed, or pot. It has a variety of effects on the mind and body, including euphoria, relaxation, pain alleviation, increased appetite, and changed perception. It is used for both recreational and therapeutic purposes.
Marijuana is still classified by the federal government as a Schedule I substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no recognized medicinal value, even though it is legal for recreational use in 18 states, the District of Columbia, and 36 states and four territories.
Seattle is the Leading Consumer of Marijuana in Washington State
A few states have legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal purposes: Washington, Colorado, and other states were the first to do so in 2012. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board recently released a report stating that the state’s marijuana tax income for the fiscal year 2020 was over $469 million, a 30% increase over the previous year.
According to the survey, Seattle, the largest and most populous city in Washington, was the city with the most marijuana consumption in the state. Tacoma had 6.4%, Spokane 8.9%, and Seattle 19.6% of the state’s total marijuana sales.
Why does Seattle consume so much Weed?
There could be many reasons why Seattle is Washington’s top marijuana user. Factors such as the progressive and liberal outlook of the city’s populace, its diverse and creative makeup, the presence of IT giants, and its artistic groups could all be significant.
Furthermore, Seattle has more than 150 licensed marijuana retailers—the most of any state—making it easily accessible.
Events such as Hempfest serve to further legitimize and promote the city’s well-established marijuana culture. As a coping strategy, marijuana may have become more popular as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects, which included elevated levels of stress and anxiety.
The Final Say
In the US, marijuana continues to be a contentious drug with differing legal and social standings. The experience in Washington, especially in Seattle, shows how legalizing marijuana has a significant effect on both tax revenue and marijuana consumption.
Seattle’s distinct demographic and cultural makeup, accessibility to marijuana, and possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are all factors contributing to the city’s marijuana usage popularity. While legalizing marijuana in other states and communities, Seattle’s approach could be a challenge as well as a model.
