Cannabis Dispensaries Were More Likely Located in Neighborhoods With Higher Black and Hispanic Populations

Census tracts with the highest percentage of Black residents had 2.07 times the odds of having a dispensary compared to those with the lowest. Similar patterns emerged for Hispanic/Latine residents and poverty levels. In contrast, areas with the most homeowner-occupied housing had only 0.21 times the odds of having a dispensary. These patterns held across all 18 states analyzed.

National analysis using dispensary locations from Weedmaps (November 2021, N=3,167) merged with US Census sociodemographic data for 18 states with legal recreational cannabis. Census tracts were categorized into quintiles, and generalized linear mixed models examined associations with dispensary presence.

Cannabis legalization was partly intended to address racial disparities from prohibition. This finding that dispensaries cluster in minority and low-income neighborhoods raises questions about whether the commercial cannabis market is replicating rather than correcting existing inequities.

This mirrors patterns seen with alcohol outlets and tobacco retailers, which are also disproportionately located in minority and low-income neighborhoods. As cannabis retail expands, these disparities could contribute to unequal health outcomes across communities.

Weedmaps may not capture all dispensaries. Cross-sectional November 2021 snapshot may not reflect current distribution. Census tract-level analysis cannot capture within-tract variation. Does not measure whether dispensary proximity affects use patterns.