Study: Oregon has most cannabis dispensaries per capita in U.S.

EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon has more marijuana dispensaries per capita than another other state in the union, according to an analysis compiled by Verilife.

"Considering it was among one of the first states to legalize medicinal marijuana, it might not be too surprising that Oregon hosts the most marijuana dispensaries per capita," according to Verilife. "There are more than 660 dispensaries located throughout the state or 16.5 per 100,000 residents."

Oregon was the first state to decriminalize marijuana in 1973, making possession of less than an ounce a violation. Possession of more than an ounce remained a felony.

Voters approved medical marijuana in 1998. In 2014, voters approved a framework for a recreational cannabis. Sales at dispensaries started October 1, 2015.

But Oklahoma was a close No. 2, with 15.6 dispensaries per 100,000 residents. Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018.

Colorado and Washington - the first two states to legalize recreational cannabis by a vote of the people in 2012 - ranked 4th and 6th on the list.

Verilife also broke down the numbers by city, with 9 cities in Oklahoma and 8 in Oregon making the top 30.

But the U.S. city with the most dispensaries was in Montana: Missoula, with 18 dispensaries per 50,000 people, according to the analysis.

In Oregon, Eugene came in 2nd amongst Beaver State cities and 4th in the U.S., followed by Portland (3rd Oregon, 6th U.S.), Salem (4th Oregon, 9th U.S.), Bend (5th Oregon, 11th U.S.), Coravllis (6th Oregon, 16th U.S.), Springfield (7th Oregon, 19th U.S.) and Beaverton (8th Oregon, 26th U.S.).

The top spot in Oregon? Medford, with 17 dispensaries per 50,000 residents. | See Verilife's analysis