Everyone loves weird and wonderful facts. And seeing as though we’re all interested in cannabis here, we figured we’d throw together some stats and see what comes out the other end. Here are the results.
1. Adults age 60+ who have recently used cannabis increased by 250% from 2010 to 2016.
Yep, our parents and grandparents are going back to picking up the joints, ingesting the edibles, and consuming the oils. Only 0.54% of those aged 60+ used weed recently back in 2010, increasing to 1.89% by 2016. Sure, it’s still a relatively small number, but the percentage increase is dramatic.
2. By the end of 2019, there were 10,595 active medicinal marijuana patients in Australia – an increase of 658% for the year.
With the landscape on medicinal marijuana continuously changing in Australia, and the government easing the rules and regulations which were restricting access to the medicinal marijuana, the numbers of cannabis patients are soaring. On top of that, more and more doctors are prescribing the cannabis as a medicine, increasing by 227% in 2019.
3. 42% of Australians support the full legalisation of marijuana – up 9% in four years.
A recent study involving around 15,000 Australians produced these results in 2019. Even though 42% agree with legalisation, 49% still oppose it. In saying that, the percentage of people who oppose is decreasing – 7% in four years. A further 9% are still undecided on the issue.
4. Cannabis use for those between 14 and 17 years old has halved in two decades.
Almost 25% of those teenagers were using cannabis regularly back in 2001. With the changing stereotypes and the weed studies shining a negative light on using cannabis whilst children are still developing, that number has decreased dramatically. By 2016, only 12% were actively using cannabis, with the decreasing trend likely to continue.
5. Hobart is the capital for weed consumption in Australia, based on a study of their waste water.
In the 9th report of a study done by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Committee (ACIC), it was revealed that Hobart residents consume nearly double the amount of weed of their Sydney counterparts, per capita. Per 1,000 people/day – Hobart residents are consuming 36,000 – 45,000 mg of THC whilst Sydney residents are only taking in around 18,000 – 27,000 mg of THC. Congratulations Tasmania – you are the weed capital of Australia.
Check out the latest cannabis news in Tasmania here.
6. If you’re not heterosexual, you’re 3.2 times more likely to use cannabis.
For the heterosexuals amongst us, around 9.7% of them have used cannabis in the past 12 months. On the other hand, if your sexuality leans a different way, the number increases to 31.4%. On top of that, you’re also 5.8 times more likely to have used ecstasy if you’re not heterosexual.
7. Cannabis consumption by those in remote or extremely remote regions in Australia has increased by 49%.
In 2010, only around 11.4% of those living in rural areas had used cannabis in the past 12 months. Fast forward a few years to 2016, and that number has increased to 17%.
8. If you end up in prison, there’s 40% chance you’ll have used cannabis in the past 12 months.
Compared to the general population where only 10.4% of people have used cannabis in the past 12 months, you’re four times more likely to have gotten high if you end up in prison. Cannabis use is only beaten out by meth/amphetamines, with 43% of prison entrants recently using the drug in the past 12 months.
9. Daily cannabis users consume more than 80% of Australia’s total cannabis consumption.
Similar to alcohol where the majority of consumption comes from daily users, the same story is told for cannabis. Of the 16% of cannabis users in Australia who use the drug daily, they account for more than 80% of the total cannabis consumption in Australia.
