According to a Forbes article, marijuana is replacing alcohol for nearly half of consumers during the coronavirus pandemic.
A Harris Poll found this month that almost half of marijuana consumers who are aged 21 and up have replaced or reduced their alcohol consumption with marijuana since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The Harris Poll, which was conducted on behalf of marijuana operator Curaleaf, also found that one-third of those who use cannabis recreationally prefer cannabis to drinking alcohol.
Almost 2,000 adults age 21 and up were surveyed about their consumption habits since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year as part of the poll. Of those respondents 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,” said Joe Bayern, president of Curaleaf. “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.”
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.
Of the respondents who had said they 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.
