Marijuana growing at a facility located in Oxford, Mississippi. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford ... [+]
How inquisitive are people in your state about medical cannabis? A recent analysis aims to find out—ranking states according to the number of Google searches for “medical marijuana” and other related keywords.
BioWellnessX, a hemp product eCommerce company, commissioned a study to analyze Google search data for a set of medical cannabis-related keywords for each state, then compared this with each state’s population to find which state is the most curious about medical cannabis.
The original study, “Which States Are The Most Obsessed With Medical Marijuana In 2024?” illustrates the levels of curiosity in each state, and some of the findings are unexpected.
Analysts gathered state-specific population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and Google monthly search data on medical cannabis-related keywords to calculate the number of searches per 100,000 residents in each state.
Mississippi took the top spot with 294.59 searches per 100,000 residents, indicating how popular curiosity for medical cannabis is in the state.
“Mississippi shines at the top with an impressive 294.59 search frequency per 100,000 residents, reflecting the strongest curiosity in medical marijuana,” the study reads. “This interest, visible through its 8,660 monthly searches despite a population of just under 2.94 million, might stem from evolving local policies or a growing recognition of the benefits of medical marijuana.”
Mississippi was followed by Arkansas, ranking second, where the search volume is 233 for every 100,000. The state’s 7,160 monthly searches among its 3.07 million population show the curiosity level. Alaska came in third, with 222 searches per 100,000 residents. The state’s 1,630 monthly searches represent a relatively small population.
States you’d expect to see—like California or Florida—didn’t even scratch the top ten. Idaho residents were the least curious about medical cannabis: Despite being home to only 2 million residents, Idaho showed the lowest interest in medical cannabis, with just 2,520 monthly searches, translating to a search frequency of just 128.26 per 100,000 residents. Idaho was joined by states like South Carolina, and surprisingly Oregon, for the states with the lowest interest in medical cannabis, according to Google search data.
The study provides the following key findings:
- A total of 488,230 monthly searches nationwide signifies that medical marijuana has become a mainstream topic across the U.S.
- Mississippi tops the chart with 294.59 searches per 100,000 residents, indicating a significant shift in interest toward medical cannabis.
- Arkansas (2nd) and Alaska (3rd) closely trail Mississippi, each with 233 and 222 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, highlighting strong interest in medical cannabis in these states.
- Despite their large populations, California, Texas, and Florida don’t rank in the top 10. Significantly, crowded New York’s a close call at rank 17.
- Ranking at the lowest, South Carolina, Idaho, and Oregon show less engagement, with just over 129 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, indicating a relatively lower level of public curiosity in these states.
BioWellnessX’s Methodologies
In order to determine the interest in medical cannabis across U.S. states, a BioWellnessX representative provided Forbes with the following methodologies used in the study:
- Using SEMrush, total monthly search volume was tracked for the keywords "medical marijuana" and its related terms for each state.
- Recent population data for each state was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau.
- To standardize the data for a fair comparison across states, we normalized it by calculating the number of searches per 100,000 residents by dividing each state’s total search volume by its population and multiplying by 100,000.
- Combining these two, the states were ranked based on their per capita interest in medical marijuana. Higher search rates per 100,000 residents indicated greater interest.
After combining the data and accounting for populations, they were able to standardize the data.
BioWellnessX’s methodology combines detailed search data with demographic insights, presenting a comprehensive view of the interest in medical cannabis across the country.
BioWellnessX sells hemp-derived products rich in cannabinoids in the form of products like Full Spectrum CBD Gummies, as well as products fortified with CBG, CBN, THC, terpenes, and so forth with an emphasis on physical well-being. They also sell a full range of tinctures and smokable products such as pre-rolls.
The research the company commissioned indicates a facet of where medical cannabis interest is growing, state by state.
