A recent poll indicates that nearly three in four marijuana consumers living in legal states trust that products they buy from licensed retailers are free from harmful contaminants. The survey, conducted by the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD, reveals that 73 percent of respondents have either “high” or “moderate” trust in the quality of these products.
In contrast, the poll also shows that 18 percent of consumers reported having “low” trust in the safety of licensed products, while 9 percent expressed no trust whatsoever. These findings align with a previous NuggMD survey from last year, where 82 percent of cannabis consumers indicated low or no trust in marijuana acquired from the illicit market.
The latest survey involved 474 respondents and was conducted between March 6-9, with a margin of error of +/-4.5 percentage points. This data represents a positive development for advocates and industry stakeholders, as it suggests that consumers recognize the benefits of legalizing and regulating cannabis. This transition is seen as a move towards safer alternatives compared to the illicit market, which lacks quality control measures, testing requirements, and product recalls.
Despite these findings, not all cannabis products from licensed retailers are guaranteed to be free of contaminants. Regulatory enforcement actions in legal states show that issues do arise. However, the presence of regulatory practices appears to be encouraging consumers to move away from the illicit market.
Andrew Graham, head of communications at NuggMD, noted that while consumer trust in the market is a positive sign, there is still evidence that regulated markets do not consistently provide clean and safe products. He emphasized that the core issue stems from federal prohibition, which complicates the establishment of uniform guidance for state-legal cannabis markets.
Graham argued that consumers who use cannabis legally deserve the same protections as other consumers, stating, “This poll is yet another example of how federal prohibition is needlessly putting the health and safety of millions of Americans at risk.”
Additionally, NuggMD conducted a separate survey revealing that two out of three marijuana consumers have had to reduce their spending on cannabis due to broader economic inflation. About 66 percent of respondents indicated they are spending less on cannabis, while 34 percent said inflation has not impacted their spending habits. This marks a shift from an earlier NuggMD survey conducted in November, which found that many consumers were spending more on cannabis compared to 2023 and expected to continue increasing their expenditures in 2025.
