13 States With the Best Pot Prices and Why Colorado Isn't Number 1

Most people assume that Colorado has the best pot prices of any state in the union thanks to the volume of legal limited recreational sales here. But most people would be wrong — as of this week, anyhow. And the ranking could change at any moment. Example: Earlier this month,...

By Michael Roberts

May 29, 2015

What happens on the ground matters — Your support makes it possible.

We’re aiming to raise $17,000 by August 10, so we can deepen our reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now: grassroots protests, immigration, politics and more.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$17,000

$3,700

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Most people assume that Colorado has the best pot prices of any state in the union thanks to the volume of legal limited recreational sales here.

But most people would be wrong — as of this week, anyhow. And the ranking could change at any moment.

Example: Earlier this month, Forbes ranked all fifty states by the cost of marijuana, using data from the crowd-sourced website PriceOfWeed.com — and Colorado placed fourth.

When we checked PriceOfWeed.com around noon yesterday, however, Colorado had moved up.

How much? Check out the numbers below for all thirteen states that earned a green dollar sign on the site's map — meaning they represented the best deals. We've listed them using the "higher quality" price and added photo-illustrations from our People of the Cannabis Cup 2015 slide show.

As you'll see, Colorado and Washington, the two states that have legalized limited recreational marijuana sales, are near the top. But a state where recreational marijuana sales structure is still more than a month from launch tops the chart — by a lot.

Count down all thirteen states below.

Number 13: Florida
High Quality: $297.04 / oz. (n=10786)
Medium Quality: $215.82 / oz. (n=9693)
Low Quality: $154.76 / oz. (n=782)

Number 12: Arizona
High Quality: $296.76 / oz. (n=2988)
Medium Quality: $208.32 / oz. (n=2868)
Low Quality: $180.64 / oz. (n=344)

Number 11: Alaska
High Quality: $292.88 / oz. (n=403)
Medium Quality: $264.61 / oz. (n=573)
Low Quality: $422.6 / oz. (n=41)

Number 10: Utah
High Quality: $284.91 / oz. (n=1076)
Medium Quality: $233.29 / oz. (n=1229)
Low Quality: $213.11 / oz. (n=71)

Number 9: New Mexico
High Quality: $282.77 / oz. (n=904)
Medium Quality: $217.46 / oz. (n=775)
Low Quality: $148.2 / oz. (n=73)

Number 8: Michigan
High Quality: $282.45 / oz. (n=4477)
Medium Quality: $263.17 / oz. (n=4310)
Low Quality: $222.09 / oz. (n=329)

Number 7: Idaho
High Quality: $273.11 / oz. (n=508)
Medium Quality: $241.6 / oz. (n=797)
Low Quality: $182.75 / oz. (n=42)

Number 6: Nevada
High Quality: $266.03 / oz. (n=1431)
Medium Quality: $224.06 / oz. (n=1650)
Low Quality: $227.29 / oz. (n=89)

Number 5: Montana
High Quality: $264.67 / oz. (n=785)
Medium Quality: $238.3 / oz. (n=446)
Low Quality: $522.85 / oz. (n=36)

Number 4: California
High Quality: $241.88 / oz. (n=18462)
Medium Quality: $187.87 / oz. (n=22007)
Low Quality: $180.24 / oz. (n=1231)

Number 3: Colorado
High Quality: $241.17 / oz. (n=3595)
Medium Quality: $194.85 / oz. (n=3422)
Low Quality: $214.26 / oz. (n=215)

Number 2: Washington
High Quality: $231.52 / oz. (n=3772)
Medium Quality: $187.19 / oz. (n=4141)
Low Quality: $168.24 / oz. (n=183)

Number 1: Oregon
High Quality: $202.14 / oz. (n=2528)
Medium Quality: $178.16 / oz. (n=2400)
Low Quality: $171.69 / oz. (n=113)
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

A message from Michael Roberts: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of essential stories and to investigate issues that matter.

Support Today