Alcohol vs. cannabis: which is more popular after the lockdown?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented and worrying impact on all businesses and sectors around the world. The cannabis and liquor companies have not been spared, and are expected to ponder the state of these companies after COVID-19.

Interestingly, one of the key issues to consider is the priority people give to both substances. Will cannabis be more important than alcohol when consumed, or will it be the other way around? How will cannabis companies fare against the liquor business?

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The move of the state of California during the pandemic

A week after the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, the state of California announced a nationwide business lockdown. The state of Illinois also followed the same policy to California.

Both states identified marijuana companies and operators as “essential services” with supermarkets, pharmacies, and liquor stores. These stores were allowed to open while other stores were closed.

Other states quickly followed the lead of California and Illinois, declaring marijuana a major business. This move enabled a rush for such essential labels in the first few weeks of the pandemic. This marijuana rush was a progressive moment in the marijuana industry that also led to the creation of new legal state marijuana markets.

These new markets are expected to generate billions of dollars from marijuana sales and position the market and industry for future expansion. By putting the “essential” label on marijuana, cannabis falls into the same category as pharmacies, hospitals, and other legitimate drugs.

Cannabis has moved from an alternative treatment to an essential medicine that represents a significant improvement in credibility. Therefore, states put marijuana on a par with alcohol. With both substances at the same level during the pandemic, marijuana companies are expected to remain indispensable in the post-COVID-19 era.

Marijuana over liquor: an inevitable choice after COVID-19.

During the pandemic, people were generally more focused on the companies that were deemed material. This means that cannabis enthusiasts have not been left dry without access to their favorite substances. When the locks were lifted and people were vaccinated, the marijuana industry continued to grow exponentially, which cannot be said of the liquor market.

Of course, people who loved alcohol enjoyed it too, but thought marijuana was a marginalized industry before the pandemic. It remains illegal at the federal level. But the pandemic changed that reality so much that people began to realize the value marijuana offered, especially to their health.

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On the flip side, while alcohol was an excellent recreational substance, it was viewed primarily as a threat as most people tried to get rid of things that might affect their body’s organs. As we all know, alcohol with any drink increases the risk of our organs being damaged.

Repeated emphasis has been placed on people reviewing what they consumed after COVID-19, and if alcohol doesn’t do a great deal, the focus will quickly shift to marijuana. The focus here is on medical marijuana, which has beneficial effects on the human body.

Cannabis as an essential substance, good for business

The designation “essential” gives cannabis during the pandemic destigmatized the drug among consumers. For example, regulators in many states insisted on business-friendly security measures like home delivery and roadside pickup.

RELATED: Marijuana will replace alcohol during the pandemic and may have long-term benefits

After the COVID-19 era, this practice will continue, which means that more people will have access to cannabis, unlike before the pandemic. State health officials also gave doctors the green light to prescribe medical marijuana (through online appointments). This move made it easier for patients to obtain medical cards and marijuana-based treatment.

These factors led states where marijuana was legal across the country to see record sales in 2020. This situation is an optimism for the marijuana industry as to how well the market will thrive well above the liquor market after COVID-19.

Why people prefer cannabis to alcohol after COVID-19

Since the pandemic, states have seen more new consumers in their pharmacies and more people willing to research marijuana. This increasing diversity among consumers largely continues as people incorporate cannabis into their health and wellness routines.

The key message during the pandemic was simple: keep your immune system strong enough to withstand the virus. Excessive alcohol consumption contradicts this message, and this drove people to seek solutions. Harris Poll conducted a survey on behalf of the Curaleafa cannabis products distributor, which operates in 23 states.

RELATED: Has COVID-19 Increased Medical Marijuana Use?

Some interesting statistics were discovered from this survey. The first is that in addition to new users, old cannabis users have also increased their use.

• 54% of those who increased their use started at the beginning of the pandemic, and they said they did so to reduce stress and anxiety.

• 50% of respondents increased their use because they said cannabis allowed them to relax.

• At the same time, 48% increased their use to help them fall asleep.

• In addition, 33% say they prefer cannabis over alcohol.

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More parents turned to cannabis over alcohol during the pandemic as well, and it continued after the pandemic:

• With this finding, more than 52% of respondents who have ever used cannabis with children under the age of 18 say they have started using cannabis.

• 33% of parents without children under 18 agree with the first respondents.

• 57% of parents agree that their use of marijuana has replaced alcohol use.

These facts further confirm that cannabis is leading the way over liquor, which is a massive boost for the marijuana industry.

Bottom line

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, some states still had some concerns about cannabis use. But since California and Illinois designate it as an essential service during the pandemic.

Medical marijuana began to take the lead while doctors were given the green light to recommend it when needed. This pandemic cannabis explosion in the States continues after COVID-19 and has resulted in cannabis being preferred to alcohol.

At some point, people will always choose the substance with more positive effects, including for recreational purposes. Cannabis has seen groundbreaking sales from 2020 to date, and with that we have an answer to the original question: cannabis trumps alcohol in a post-pandemic world.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and was republished with permission.