A pilot survey of 132 medical marijuana patients found they spent an average of $41 per dispensary visit, with older patients and those using cannabis for anxiety or sleep spending significantly more than those treating chronic pain.
Read this if you are interested in how medical cannabis patients use dispensaries and how spending varies by condition and demographics.
Average $41 per visit, with anxiety/sleep patients spending more than pain patients
What the researchers found
This pilot study surveyed 132 medical marijuana patients as they exited four dispensaries in Long Beach, California. The average amount spent on marijuana buds in a single transaction was $40.82, ranging from $10 to $255.
Age and medical condition predicted spending differences. For every 10-year increase in age, patients spent approximately 10% more per visit. Patients with recommendations for anxiety, sleeping problems, or other nonspecified conditions spent significantly more per transaction than those treating chronic pain.
These purchasing patterns may reflect differences in product preferences, consumption rates, or the relative difficulty of managing different conditions with cannabis.
Why it matters
Understanding purchasing behavior helps characterize how patients actually use dispensaries and allocate personal resources to cannabis treatment. This data is relevant for policy makers, researchers studying patient-level economics, and dispensary operators.
The numbers in context
Average spending: $40.82 per visit. Range: $10-$255. 132 patients across 4 dispensaries. 10-year age increase associated with 10% higher spending. Anxiety/sleep patients spent more than chronic pain patients.
How the study worked
Exit survey of 132 medical marijuana patients (33 per dispensary) at four purposively sampled dispensary locations in Long Beach, California, in 2012. Multivariate regression analyzed spending in relation to demographics, medical conditions, and location.
What this study cannot tell us
Very small pilot sample from one city. Exit surveys capture only one purchase and may not reflect typical behavior. Only marijuana buds were measured, excluding concentrates, edibles, and other products. 2012 data predates significant market evolution.
How to read the evidence
Small pilot study with convenience sampling from one city. Provides initial data but very limited generalizability.
When this study was published
Published in 2016 using 2012 data from Long Beach, California. The medical cannabis market has transformed dramatically since.
The bigger picture
As medical cannabis programs expand, understanding the financial burden on patients is important. The finding that anxiety and sleep patients spend more than pain patients suggests these conditions may require higher or more frequent dosing, or that these patient populations choose different (potentially more expensive) products.
Questions still open
- Why do anxiety/sleep patients spend more than pain patients? Do older patients buy more per visit because they visit less frequently? How have purchasing patterns changed as product options have expanded?
Common questions
How much do medical marijuana patients spend per dispensary visit?
Does spending differ by medical condition?
Read the original research
Correlates of Amount Spent on Marijuana Buds During a Discrete Purchase at Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: Results from a Pilot Study.
Journal of psychoactive drugs, 48(1), 50-5
Citation
Kepple, Nancy Jo; Mulholland, Elycia; Freisthler, Bridget; Schaper, Elizabeth. (2016). Correlates of Amount Spent on Marijuana Buds During a Discrete Purchase at Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: Results from a Pilot Study.. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 48(1), 50-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2015.1116719
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