Percentage Of Pot Smokers In The USA

A few people have called me out on my 1 percent evaluation of pot smokers in America. Well According to "Facts and Myths", the following applies:
http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

Fact: Most people who smoke marijuana smoke it only occasionally. A small minority of Americans - less than 1 percent - smoke marijuana on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develop a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop without difficulty. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild.

I smoked for more than 30 years, daily basis, about 1-2 OZs a week. I thought I was pretty normal and pot was not a problem. Turns out I was wrong. Pot was having an influence on my thinking, 24-7. I know not if my life would have been any different, but nonetheless, it did have an influence on me. For one thing, one of the most important things in my life was pot, did I have enough, would I run out, where could I get more, was I going to get busted, in fact I did get busted in a 30lb transaction (Sale). That was a bad day. I skated with 15 days and a 1,000 dollar fine and 2 years probation, now days, it would be much harsher. You all can live in that state of denial if you choose, but think about it, what is really important in your lives? Is pot the #1 importance in your lives?

I like pot

1% on a regular basis good for them what about the irregular basis people. that is a better number. People who use on and off are regular people who should not be made to feel they are criminals for doing something that hurts no one.

Although, You bring up a good point if its the axis of your life their may be something wrong. But if it enhances your life and your enjoyment of it great. I love how it makes me feel, I laugh and joke I smile and have fun things just arn't so damn serious all the time.

ilkhan said:

I like pot

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That's OK. Just accept the fact that you're in the 1% minority, a very vocal minority at that. Ever wonder why the politicians don't take you guys seriously, 1% don't elections win.

Well its only 1% that smoke on a daily basis, not a cumulative of actual individuals that smoke. As far as legalizing pot, I'm pretty sure that the majority of that 1% probably arnt voting lol.. If I had to pull a number outa my ass i'd say at least 45% of people in general smoke on occasion ( prolly more like 75% but hey). sound about right?

Hard to ge the real numbers.
less then 1% of americans made cannabis a $113 billion dollar industry??(annually)
http://www.illinoisnorml.org/content/view/711/69/
the numbers don't add up. america has 300 million people.

One percent isn't gonna change things but its not one percent we are fighting for. I havn't smoked in several months I am not a regular basis guy. (Although if I had a steady supply I would be, probably) I am not in a 1% minority because its not just the daily users we are fighting for. the guy who lights up once in a while should not be made to feel he is contributing to all manner of evils. Its just not true.

People are in a society of self loathing. We hate our bodys, we hate our sexuality, we hate reseiving pleasure in any form that is not approved by society. So much so that we have convinced ourselves we need laws prohibiting pleasurable things, why?? Morality, whos morality? Not mine. Now this philosophy can go to far but as long as no one is harmed/enslaved it should be all good.

Pot will be legal even if it contributes to the colapse of the country one way or another it will be legal. And I make no appologies. It is politicians and their morality/society that will break the country not pot.

I would say the once in a while users would number 15% or so. People who have smoked would be much higher. But people feel guilty for doing it. When they shouldn't. Like Michael Phelps I would have been Like "yeah, I love pot, I smoke that shit all the time I highly recomend it I won 47 gold medals so can you!!" What would they do then OMFG people would shit a brick "I can't believe he said that." Its a guilty pleasure people think makes them a bad person, its just not true.

That's what I was going to say the numbers don't add up. You can't have the largest cash crop in the US... Somewhere more than 1% are smoking all that.
If it was really only 1% doing the majority of the smoking how many pounds per week would each of us have to smoke?

Does it affect peoples lives? Sure. Is it one of the most important things in my life? Sure. Would I be better off without it? If I was healthy and didn't have to choose between this and opiates, probably, but no I am better off with it now because of my circumstances.

medicineman said:

Bump for potheads. What's the matter, facts don't interest you all? Thats right fellas, less than 1% smoke on a regular basis, hell, that's 3 million +. If all you guys/gals could get together, it'd be one hell of a party, eh?

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And you actually believe that? haha nice fact.

If that $113 billion number is to be believed and only 1% was doing the smoking they would be spending in excese of $30,000 a year on pot each on average. At $1,000 dollars an ounce that would be 7 million pounds 3500 tonnes of pot. No lots of people partake it isn't no 1%. only 1% stay lit every day all day, day after day.

I do not think there is really any way to get an accurate figure of how many people are regular smokers, let alone the occasional smokers. People tend to keep quiet about it, so who is going to gather the statistical data. Also, as others have pointed out, the numbers do not make sense for the 1% figure. I think the percentage of daily smokers maybe is 1%, but overall i would say that the number is probably a bit higher.

No we don't, you've said that about something I said before and it wasn't accurate then either. When I talk about us pot smoker I am never only referring to people who smoke 24/7 or people that grow, that would be strange if I were. I'm referring to all pot smokers whether it's once a year or once in their lifetime. They smoked, they could have been busted, but they are not criminals and neither am I. Figures state something near 50% isn't it. 50% of the entire US population at one time used and would be considered criminals by default had they been caught.

You may not consider it that, but it is that. You can't get financial aid or student loans or grants from the guvment, can't get student housing, can't get any federally backed housing, can't get a lot of jobs, you name it. It's still treated as a serious crime in many regards. Obama or Bush or Clinton had any one of them been busted taking one hit off one joint they would not have qualified to be president. I think you might not even be allowed to become a lawyer but on that I'm not sure.

That 1% figure is total bullshit.

medicineman said:

I've never considered pot smoking a criminal act, but you must admit, some criminals smoke pot.

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true but i would also like to point out some criminals have sex or watch porn so should that be illegal i believe that in some way the numbers in which you received your statistics are askew if you say that pot smokers are afraid of facts please site your resources as most online surveys are askew...... i also believe that any survey done may be askew because of peoples fear of prosecution i do believe i am in a slightly more pot affluent state than you might be in which i still feel oppressed by a legal recomendation ... for the record i am employed but was recently offered a postion at a company in which i am contracted for and i had to decline higher pay more hours and full benefits because i am a medical marijuana patient(couldnt pass the drug test and a fear of losing current employment if failed) i also feel that it constricts my choices when job shopping which lowers what may be an already low incentve for most of the people in which you are familiar with ...................... shit that lead to a rant sorry i just harvested

I smoke almost everyday, once or twice a day. I had so many psychological problems that, before I started smoking pot, I just didn't even wanna live anymore. Depression, anxiety & panic attacks, and bipolar disorder. Pot has helped me deal with that stuff in a much better way than before. I don't wanna hurt myself anymore... I actually enjoy life now I know at least 20-30 people in my town that smoke on a daily basis... plus a good 30 people from a couple of surrounding towns... and they're all within 5 or 10 years of my age.. so there's probably hundreds in this town and the two surrounding towns alone. And damn, in the whole state, there's probably hundreds of thousands just like them. And if the rest of the country is anything like Maine, which I know for a fact that 5 or 6 other states are... I'm pretty sure that number is a lot fuckin higher than 1%.

This whole post is a troll. 1% huh, the bitch about it to the 99% of the people that don't.

You said you smokes 1-2 oz's a week? Are you kidding me?

Dude, just because you had some major addiction problems, don't come here and spout shit to people you know nothing about. A good amount of us here are medical users, with real conditions. You were unable to control yourself. Reguardless if you are high or not , if you are a lazy worthless piece of shit, your not going to be happy, and MJ gives you something other than yourself to blame.

Dude, you were a tard because you could not control yourself and live a productive life. Don't come here and assume people here have the failings you have.

I take weeks or months off smoking, because it does affect my thought process. Things that are important to me when sober, aren't important when I'm smoking. I gain weight when I'm smoking too, no matter how hard I try not to eat. Still, I love this damn plant. Just can't have it 24/7 forever. Some people can do it though. I know daily smokers who are awesome and seem to function normally when high.