The U.S. Pre-Roll Market: Sales, Trends, and What’s Next

Pre-rolled joints have moved from niche convenience item to one of the fastest-growing segments of the legal cannabis market. Over the last two years pre-rolls have seen rapid sales growth, rising consumer demand for infused and premium formats, and a maturing pricing cycle that varies widely by state and product tier. This article is a look at where the market stands today and where it’s headed.

Big Picture: Market Size and Recent Totals

• In 2024 Americans consumed roughly 316 million pre-rolls, generating about $3.1 billion in retail sales, making pre-rolls a major and fast-growing category within legal cannabis.

  
  

• Broader industry data shows pre-rolls produced more than $4.1 billion in sales and 394 million units across tracked markets (Jan 2023–June 2024), underscoring how quickly the cannabis product category has expanded across multiple states.

Year-Over-Year Growth & Recent Momentum

• Pre-rolls have been the fastest-growing category in many markets. One industry analysis showed pre-roll revenue growth of nearly 12% year-over-year between June 2023 and June 2024, outpacing other categories in many regions.

• Growth is being driven both by mass-market value SKUs (low-price, high-volume joints) and by premium infused offerings that command higher price points and margins.

State Leaders & Where Sales are Concentrated

• Large, mature markets naturally generate the biggest dollar totals. California remains the single largest cannabis market and a heavy contributor to pre-roll sales, but Michigan has emerged as an outsized leader in pre-roll volume and value in recent years, and in several reports Michigan is highlighted as the state with the highest pre-roll volume and deeply competitive pricing.

• Other strong pre-roll markets typically include Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, and certain Northeast markets where retail distribution and consumer demand have surged. Market shares are fluid by state and driven by local brands, pricing, and retail velocity.

Preroll Prices: Averages, Spreads, and Trends

• Average pre-roll prices vary a lot by state, product format (single vs. multi-pack), and whether a product is standard or infused. Multiple trackers and industry write-ups show a downward pressure on average item price even as premium segments expand. Headline numbers from 2023–2024 show average item prices falling from roughly $11–$12 down toward the single digits in many markets. One dataset put average item price near $9.50 in September 2024, down from over $10 a year earlier.

  
  

• Other reporting estimates average per-piece pricing anywhere from about $5–$10 depending on region and product mix; premium, glass-tipped, or infused pre-rolls commonly sell for more (sometimes $15–$30 per pack itemized), while high-volume commodity joints can sell for $2–$4 each at retail.

Which Pre-Roll Types Sell Best?

• Infused pre-rolls (kief, live resin, distillate, rosin) are a major growth engine, several trackers show infused joints growing faster than non-infused formats and capturing a large and rising share of revenue. Infused options often command a premium price and have posted strong year-over-year growth.

• Multi-packs and mini/convenience formats: Consumers increasingly buy multi-packs and smaller per-unit formats (e.g., 0.35g minis) for dosing control and sessionability; brands like Dogwalkers have built followings on this format.

• Premium glass-tipped pre-rolls and novelty SKUs (jar packs, celebrity or limited-edition drops) continue to perform well for brands that focus on differentiation and storytelling.

Historical Context and Short-term Forecast

• The U.S. legal cannabis market is sizable and growing. Reports estimated the U.S. market size at roughly $38.5 billion in 2024 with a multi-year CAGR in the low to mid-teens projected out to 2030. With pre-rolls representing a large and fast-growing slice of that market, analysts expect continued expansion, particularly as infused and convenient formats gain share.

  
  

• Forecasts from specialist cannabis analysts (BDSA, Grand View Research and others) point to healthy continued growth for pre-rolls, though the pace will depend on price competition, state-by-state legalization rollouts, and supply/demand dynamics. Expect moderate CAGR for the product category as national legalization (if and when it arrives) and interstate commerce remain major unknowns.

Useful Metrics For Manufacturers and Co-packers

• Units per category: Multi-pack SKUs and infused lines account for a larger share of revenue than raw unit counts alone would suggest. Infused pre-rolls often represent a disproportionate share of revenue while conventional joints drive volume.

• Margins: Premium infused and branded SKUs generally deliver higher margins than commodity joints; many leading consumer brands report higher retail price and stronger profit margin on infused offerings.

• Lead times & MOQs: Co-packers and manufacturers report variable lead times by state and SKU complexity; low-MOQ programs are critical for brands testing new SKUs before scaling. Industry resources and co-pack partnerships help brands accelerate testing and reduce time to shelf.

What This Means For Brands, Retailers, and Manufacturers

• Brands: Testing multiple formats (infused, mini, glass-tipped, multi-pack) and using co-packers to run small batches is now a core strategy to discover what sells in specific states. With price compression at commodity tiers, differentiation (through infusion, packaging, and brand story) matters more than ever.

  
  

• Retailers: Pre-rolls are a revenue driver. Stocking a balanced mix of low-price commodity lines, value multi-packs, and premium infused options captures both everyday buyers and experience seekers.

  
  

• Manufacturers / Co-packers: Investment in flexible equipment (high-quality centrifuge packers, depositors for infused cones, automated finishing and packaging) positions operations to serve both high-volume commodity customers and premium niche brands. Scalability and low downtime are key competitive advantages.