Almost half of cannabis consumers age 21 and up have replaced or reduced their alcohol consumption with marijuana since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the results of a Harris Poll released this month. The poll also found that one-third of those who use cannabis recreationally prefer cannabis to drinking alcohol.
To conduct the poll, nearly 2,000 adults age 21 and up were surveyed about their consumption habits since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year. Of those who said that they have ever used cannabis, 42% said that they had either started or increased their consumption during the pandemic, while 45% said they had replaced or reduced alcohol use with cannabis.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen an increase in new consumers at our dispensaries with more people exploring cannabis,” Joe Bayern, president of Curaleaf, said in a press release. “The liberalization of the plant – and the increasing diversity among consumers who enjoy it – will continue as the general public become more interested in incorporating cannabis in their health and wellness routines.”
The survey was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Curaleaf, a manufacturer and retailer of cannabis products with operations in 23 states. A total of 1,895 adults completed the online survey between October 8 and October 12, with 772 of the respondents reporting that they have ever used cannabis. The survey found similarities in cannabis consumption regardless of educational level or marital status, and throughout different regions of the country.
Among those who said they had increased their cannabis consumption since the start of the pandemic, 54% said that they did so to reduce stress and anxiety. Half of the respondents (50%) said they increased their use because cannabis helped them relax, and 48% said they did so to help them sleep. Of those who said they use marijuana recreationally, a third (33%) said that they prefer cannabis over alcohol.
Parents Also Turning To Pot During The Pandemic
Parents are turning to cannabis at higher rates than those without children, according to the results of the survey. More than half of the respondents (52%) who have ever used cannabis and have kids under the age of 18 said that they had started or increased their consumption of marijuana since the pandemic, while 33% of those without children under 18 said the same. More than half of parents who have ever consumed cannabis (57%) reported that their use of marijuana replaced or reduced alcohol consumption.
Stacia Woodcock, who has a doctorate in pharmacy and is a dispensary manager for Curaleaf in New York, noted that the company’s staff is ready to help consumers find the cannabis formulations that fit their needs.
“Educating consumers around cannabis consumption is so important,” said Woodcock. “Curaleaf’s pharmacists and committed dispensary associates make it a priority to educate our patients and consumers and help them find the right products to make cannabis a part of their lives.”
The survey illustrates that attitudes about cannabis are evolving as the green wave of marijuana legalization continues to sweep across the United States. Another recent poll commissioned by California cannabis and hemp company the Glass House Group found that nearly two-thirds of respondents planned to replace alcohol use with cannabis during the holiday season, while 67% said their replacement of alcohol with cannabis would increase this year over 2019.
