Movoto, an online real estate brokerage based in California, constructed an index ranking America’s most marijuana friendly cities. Based on their analysis, Buffalo Niagara ranks dead last, tied for 97th place of 100 cities. Rochester ranked considerably “higher” at 55th most pot friendly. Denver, Colorado Springs, and Seattle top the list, with six Californian cities also making the Top 10.
Movoto based their index on a number of indicators: marijuana dispensaries per capita; number of residents with medical marijuana cards; head shops per capita; marijuana-related events & festivals per capita; whether or not medical marijuana use is legal in the state; whether or not marijuana use is legal in the state; whether or not marijuana use is decriminalized in the state (no fine/jail for first-time possession).
Is our city really more socially repressed than others? The index certainly suggests our regulatory regime is more repressive – but other cities in our same state ranked much higher.
If so, what about our human geography – our history, culture, and body politic – have imposed on us more prudish social norms?