Marijuana use has increased 56% since 2018: YouGov study

By Javier Hasse

One in four adults in the United States currently uses cannabis – or has tried some form of it in the last 12 months. That is the result of a forthcoming study conducted by market research and data analytics company YouGov and cannabis company Cresco Labs’ retail brand Sunnyside of some 5,000 Americans who “represent the US population.”

The 25% use represents a sharp increase (56.25%) from the 16% reported in the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey. In addition, 23% of self-declared cannabis users said they did it because of the first time in the last year. According to the study, this suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a number of new states legalizing cannabis, has accelerated the adoption and adoption of cannabis in the United States

Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash

“We were curious to learn how current conditions have affected consumer attitudes and cannabis use before we hosted an unprecedented celebration on April 20th. expect, “said Cris Rivera, senior vice president of retail marketing and customer experience at Cresco Labs. . “Whether it’s the stressors of a global pandemic or the increased accessibility due to expanded government decriminalization, cannabis has become the leading CPG category for exploration as people flock to pharmacies to discover the range of novel formats and modern products that are available to them. “

Other important findings

The YouGov study contains a number of interesting data points related to cannabis. One curiosity relates to the upcoming April 20th holiday – the unofficial marijuana day. According to the research company, 44% of American cannabis users believe April 20th should be recognized as a national holiday.

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Aside from curiosities, some other key findings from the study include:

• 44% of parents with children under the age of 18 who reported using cannabis said they tried it for the first time in the past year.
• 43% of seniors (65 and over) who use cannabis also tried it for the first time in the past year.
• The frequency of use is the same for men and women.
• 64% of cannabis users believe the world would be “a better place” if more people accepted the herb.

The report also examined the reasons for cannabis use in the United States:

• 56% of respondents said they used cannabis to relieve anxiety and / or stress.
• 48% said they use it to help sleep.
• 48% consume it to improve mood.
• Anxiety and stress are the main reasons for cannabis use in all age groups.

Preferences by region:

• People in the Northeast are most likely (64%) to use cannabis for anxiety / stress relief.
• People on the west coast and south are socially more likely to use cannabis than in the rest of the country.
• People in the South are more likely (32%) to use cannabis for intimacy
• People in the Midwest consume more (61%) foods and drinks than the rest of America.

Some 4/20 dates

“I think this year’s 4/20 is turning into a perfect storm with usage increasing last year, more people being vaccinated and comfortable around others, and a significant number of new consumers entering the cannabis market,” said Jason Erkes, CCO of Cresco Labs.

RELATED: Whoa! New report shows so many Americans use cannabis

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Back to the celebrations of April 20th. the study showed that:

• 57% of cannabis users believe that 4/20 is a day for rest, relaxation, and wellbeing.
• 50% of 21- to 54-year-olds said that they would be on April 20th this year. “try or try” a new product.
• 60% of cannabis users between the ages of 21 and 34 stated that on April 20. trying a new form of cannabis.
• 25% of men said that they plan to do so on April 20. Find offers and sales.
• 20% of the female respondents said they were planning a wellness day.
• 53% of cannabis users plan on April 20th this year. to celebrate in company, either virtually or in person.
• 11% of Americans ages 21 or older expect to meet 4/20 this month. to celebrate.

“Our study with YouGov found that 25% of all cannabis users tried cannabis for the first time in the past year, which means there are plenty of new users to celebrate and watch the day happen. In addition, more than half of those surveyed said they were trying a new product or shape using a 4/20 rating, which should certainly help boost retail sales, ”said Erkes.

Rivera concluded, “We are on a mission to normalize and professionalize the shopping experience so that consumers can feel comfortable and confident adding cannabis to their daily wellbeing. We believe 4/20 should be a mainstream and inclusive holiday, and this dataset shows that people across America plan to embrace it in new ways this year. “

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.