74% of US Vape Shops Sell Intoxicating Cannabis Products, Even in States With Bans
A national survey found 74% of US vape shops sold intoxicating hemp-derived cannabis products, including 43% of shops in states that have banned delta-8 THC, revealing widespread non-compliance with existing regulations.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
74% of 520 surveyed vape shops sold intoxicating cannabis products. Availability varied by regulatory context: 92% in states with limited/no regulations, 90% in states with significant restrictions, 53% in states with substantial regulations, and 43% in states with outright bans. Products were sold in every state except Washington and Alaska, both of which banned hemp-derived intoxicating products and had active legal cannabis retail.
Key Numbers
520 vape shops surveyed; 74% sold intoxicating cannabis products; 43% in ban states; 53% in regulated states; 90% in restricted states; 92% in unregulated states; available in 48/50 states.
How They Did This
Systematic survey of 520 US vape shops (10 per state, DC, and Puerto Rico) conducted November-December 2023 by phone, assessing availability of 6 commonly sold intoxicating cannabis products.
Why This Research Matters
This is the first national snapshot showing that intoxicating cannabis products are available in retail stores in all 50 states. The finding that 43% of shops in ban states still sell these products shows current enforcement is largely ineffective.
The Bigger Picture
Combined with licensed dispensaries, intoxicating cannabis products can now be purchased retail in all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The hemp loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill has effectively created a national unregulated cannabis market operating alongside state-regulated ones.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Phone survey may not capture all product types. 10 shops per state is a limited sample. Cannot verify product contents or potency.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would explicit prohibition of hemp-derived intoxicating products in the 2024 Farm Bill be enforceable?
- ?Are states with both legal cannabis retail and hemp bans (WA, AK) a model for effective regulation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 43% of vape shops in ban states still sell intoxicating cannabis products
- Evidence Grade:
- National systematic survey with representative sampling, limited by 10 shops per state.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication with November-December 2023 data
- Original Title:
- Intoxicating Cannabis Products in Vape Shops: United States, 2023.
- Published In:
- American journal of preventive medicine, 67(5), 776-784 (2024)
- Authors:
- Rossheim, Matthew E(14), LoParco, Cassidy R(26), Tillett, Kayla K(5), Treffers, Ryan D, Livingston, Melvin D, Berg, Carla J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05667
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy cannabis products in every US state?
Effectively yes. This 2023 survey found intoxicating cannabis products in vape shops in 48 of 50 states, and licensed dispensaries cover the remaining two. Combined, intoxicating cannabis is available retail in all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Do cannabis product bans actually work?
Poorly, according to this survey. In states that banned delta-8 THC, 43% of vape shops still sold intoxicating cannabis products. Only states that combined bans with active legal cannabis retail (Washington, Alaska) had no vape shop sales.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05667APA
Rossheim, Matthew E; LoParco, Cassidy R; Tillett, Kayla K; Treffers, Ryan D; Livingston, Melvin D; Berg, Carla J. (2024). Intoxicating Cannabis Products in Vape Shops: United States, 2023.. American journal of preventive medicine, 67(5), 776-784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.07.001
MLA
Rossheim, Matthew E, et al. "Intoxicating Cannabis Products in Vape Shops: United States, 2023.." American journal of preventive medicine, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.07.001
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Intoxicating Cannabis Products in Vape Shops: United States,..." RTHC-05667. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rossheim-2024-intoxicating-cannabis-products-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.