Study Says San Francisco Is Pot Smoking Capital Of U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A recent study revealed that San Francisco residents smoke more pot than anyone else in the country.
It is something that might not be a surprise to many locals, but the study officially establishes the City by the Bay as the pothead capital of America.
You don't have to walk far in San Francisco to find someone who's smoked pot in the last year, but finding someone willing to talk about it on camera is a little tougher.
Almost one in four teenagers and adults in San Francisco has gotten high in the last year.
According to a study of the whole country by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, that is the highest number in the California and the country.
"It's not a surprise," said marijuana activist John Entwistle. "I've lived in SF a long time and, frankly, you wont find an apartment here where your roommate wont smoke pot."
Entwistle says its because San Francisco is home to the medical marijuana movement. In 1991, the city passed legislation making enforcement of marijuana violations its lowest priority.
He says now it's an established culture for the folks here.
"They just want something that sparks the imagination, calms them down, takes the edge off the coffee, explained Entwistle. And we can afford good drugs here. We can afford the best. And that's why we smoke cannabis."
The North Bay is the only part of the Bay Area that even comes close to San Francisco's numbers. The San Jose area has the least.
But no matter where you are, the numbers show you're never far from someone lighting up.
"It's California. It's the end of the continent. You can't go any farther," one resident told KPIX 5. "And San Francisco has that reputation anyway."
An important detail to note about the survey: the study was done between 2012 and 2014, a period of time prior to Colorado and Washington legalizing recreational marijuana use. The next study will likely reflect the impact of that major change.
