NEW YORK — As the U.S. navigates a post-election year, a new national survey reveals shifting social views of cannabis, including rising safety concerns about regulated products, increasing support of growing cannabis at home as well as Americans’ desire to consume more cannabis to cope with the new presidential administration.
The 2025 survey of Americans 21 and older, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds (RQS), found 54% of Americans believe most store-bought cannabis contains pesticides. Similarly, among cannabis consumers, 62% say they are concerned about not knowing exactly what is in the cannabis products they consume.
Increasing news coverage of contaminated cannabis, product recalls and inconsistent testing in states such as California, Michigan and New Jersey is influencing consumer behavior. Nearly one in three cannabis consumers who have seen cannabis-related news (32%) say it made them more likely to want to grow cannabis at home instead of buying it.
“We’re seeing a groundswell of support for home cultivation across demographics, driven not just by cost, but by trust,” said Shai Ramsahai, President of Royal Queen Seeds. “People want to know what they’re putting in their bodies. For many, growing cannabis is about wellness, empowerment and transparency.”
The poll also asked Americans about their personal cannabis use; half of cannabis consumers (50%) say the new presidential administration will lead them to consume more cannabis than they did before, including 59% of young female cannabis consumers (ages 21–34).
The Case for Home Grow
With news headlines like “Even where weed is legal, product safety isn’t guaranteed,” it is no surprise the survey shows growing support among Americans for home cannabis cultivation, with 64% agreeing that all Americans should have the right to legally grow cannabis at home — up from 59% in 2024. The poll shows increased interest in growing at home among cannabis consumers, even as fears of legal risks remain.
- 15% currently grow at home, up from 11% in 2024.
- 76% agree that growing cannabis at home would save money compared to buying from dispensaries.
- 58% agree that they are concerned about the potential legal risks of growing cannabis at home, even where it is legal.
- 62% would rather grow their own cannabis than buy it.
- Nearly half who have successfully grown at home say they do so because it’s fun (46%) and they enjoy growing other plants (46%), while 40% say it’s cheaper than buying at the store and 38% say it feels safer consuming home-grown flower than store-bought.
- 41% who have successfully grown at home also say they enjoy growing other plants: 28% also grow their own food.
Survey method
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll from March 13-17, 2025, among 2,011 adults ages 21 and older; 782 self-identified as cannabis consumers (i.e., ever consume cannabis). The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.
About Royal Queen Seeds
Established in 2007, Royal Queen Seeds (RQS) operates online in the U.S., Thailand, and 29 countries across Europe. Headquartered in Barcelona, brick-and-mortar locations can be found in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Durban, and New York.
