Nearly 10 years ago a 2000 Pew Research poll found that just 31% of Americans supported cannabis legalization. That number nearly doubled by 2017 when Pew Research found that 61% of Americans favored legalization. One year later, an October 2018 Gallup poll revealed that two out of three Americans (66%) believe marijuana use should be legal.

With the growing acceptance of cannabis in the United States, accessibility has increased as well as more states legalize medical and/or recreational marijuana.

Just two years ago, in 2017, medical cannabis was legal in only 27 states, and adult-use cannabis was legal in just 5 states. Two years later, in 2019, 34 states have legalized some form of medical cannabis, and 12 states have legalized adult-use cannabis. That’s a 67% increase in medical states and a 160% increase in adult-use states.

However, legalization of cannabis for medical and/or recreational use doesn’t automatically mean that people will be able to access it.

Growing Acceptance of the Business of Marijuana

Not only do consumers want access to marijuana products, but businesses and residents who understand that the marijuana industry benefits states and communities through job creation and taxes want it as well. In other words, consumers, investors, and regulators are all becoming more accepting of marijuana.

According to Vangst, the cannabis industry’s leading hiring platform, the number of cannabis job listings increased by 690% between January 2017 and August 2018, and salaries increased by more than 16%.

Furthermore, New Frontier Data reported in its Cannabis in the U.S. Economy – Jobs, Growth & Tax Revenue 2018 Edition that marijuana sales (both medical and adult-use) generated an estimated $1.6 billion in tax revenue across the supply chain in 2018. New Frontier Data projects that marijuana tax revenues could climb to $3.4 billion by 2025.

It’s important to note that the 2025 projected tax revenue assumes only states where marijuana is currently legal. In The U.S. Cannabis Report 2019 Industry Outlook, New Frontier Data predicts the total U.S. cannabis industry will grow to $30 billion by 2025. Medical sales will reach $13.1 billion and adult-use sales will grow to $16.6 billion by 2025. That equals a lot of tax revenue for states with thriving markets.

With those numbers, it’s not surprising that Boston University’s 2018 Merino Survey of Mayors found that the majority of sitting U.S. mayors favored legalizing marijuana sales in their cities. However, there were still stark differences between the views of Democratic mayors (62% support legalizing marijuana sales in their cities) and Republican mayors (only 33% support legalizing marijuana sales in their cities).

Acceptance Does Not Always Equal Accessibility

Despite what the data shows in terms of the growth in marijuana acceptance in the United States, accessibility to purchase marijuana still has a long way to go. In total, 33% of states have yet to legalize medical marijuana, and 76% if states haven’t legalized recreational marijuana.

In addition, rules and regulations limit accessibility in states where medical and/or recreational marijuana have been legalized.

Cannabiz Media has identified many barriers to marijuana accessibility that not only affect consumer access but also affect the overall success of a state’s marijuana program. These barriers can vary from state to state. Some examples include:

• Physician recommendations
• Patient registration fees
• Reciprocity rules
• Limited covered conditions
• Restrictions on dispensary numbers and locations
• Local rules limiting or banning marijuana businesses
• License structure requirements
• License caps
• Product forms available
• Price
• Taxes

Each of the above obstacles limits Americans’ ability to access medical marijuana and the ability of cannabis businesses to compete freely. Some obstacles also unnecessarily affect supply and demand, which creates an economic imbalance that either leads to product shortages or price increases – both of which have negative effects on consumer accessibility. However, research shows that the majority of Americans want marijuana to be accessible for medical and recreational use.

Unfortunately, there is still a sizable gap between marijuana acceptance and acceptability in the United State. When you consider how the tides have changed for the marijuana industry in terms of public opinion, it’s not a stretch to assume Americans will eventually demand that many of these obstacles are removed to provide greater accessibility. In fact, it’s very likely that we’ll see them voice their demands at the polls in states that have cannabis initiatives on upcoming ballots.

Originally published 5/10/17. Updated 10/18/19.