Federal Employees In D.C. Area Are Buying Loads Of Legal Weed

While the federal government continues to drag its collective feet when it comes to reforming national marijuana laws, Federal employees that live in and around the nation’s capital are already smoking weed in growing numbers. And many of those cannabis consumers are federal government workers, according to a new study.

The Green Market Report, in collaboration with data provider Consumer Research Around Cannabis, analyzed the consumer profile and opinions of those who live inside the beltway. After crunching the numbers, the researchers concluded that 8 percent of the adults in the region have visited a legal retailer and bought marijuana.

• Related Story: In D.C., A Basic T-Shirt Costs $45, But The Marijuana Is Free

“Considering Washington D..C is where our federal legislation is created, results that indicate a significant number of government employees favoring the legality of its consumption as well as consuming it themselves, is clear indication that prohibition is outdated,” said Jeffrey Stein of Consumer Research Around Cannabis.

As Forbes’ Debra Borchardt reports:

Of the survey respondents who were government employees, 11 percent had bought marijuana legally, slightly higher than the eight percent overall rate, and government employees accounted for 16.7 percent of the total number of buyers. Some 41 percent of the government employees approved of both legalized adult use and medical marijuana, only 11 percent disapproved of the legalization of both categories. This seems to fly in the face of the attitudes from the current leaders of the Department of Justice and The Drug Enforcement Agency.

Here are some interesting factoids revealed from the report, which was released earlier this week:

Occupational Status

• 55.3 percent are white-collar
• 32.3 percent are professional
• 30.5 percent are business owners
• 30 percent are full-time workers
• 7.5 percent are blue-collar

Political Affiliation

• 47.8 percent are independents
• 27.1 percent are liberals
• 25.1 percent are conservatives

Income Status

• 76 percent make more than $50,000 a year
• 37 percent make more than $100,000 a year

Education Level

• 68.3 percent have at least an undergraduate degree
• 36.3 percent have advanced degrees

“I think it’s clear that the data debunks many of the negative connotations attached to cannabis use – whether for medicinal or recreational use,” said  Stein. “They are well educated, have good jobs and are financially sound.  Cannabis consumer data like this should be a wake-up call to government officials and companies that have thus far ignored this growing consumer group.”

The report concluded:

A large segment of the D.C market cannabis consumer is smart, comfortably employed, educated, a government employee or professional, and loves their concentrates! Let’s hope this sophisticated group can help influence on federal policy toward cannabis prohibition in a positive way. They are arguably positioned best to help influence advance the industry with better legislation best.

According to Green Market Report, 1,368 responded to the survey. The D.C. market represents 5,187,362 adults and includes portions of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia along with the District of Columbia.