Super Bowl Sunday weed sales drop in 2023

An estimated 113 million viewers tuned in to Super Bowl LVII to see if the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs would win this year (the second most-watched since Super Bowl XLIX in 2015). Among those viewers were countless cannabis users, but cannabis sales were down slightly compared to last year.

A point-of-sale cannabis purchase averages about $84.61, but last weekend’s sales saw a 4% drop in sales.

According to data collected by Chicago-based Fyllo, pre-rolls were the most popular product purchased that weekend, accounting for 37% of sales. In a statement to Forbes, Fyllo founder Chad Bronstein explained that pre-rolls are selling so well because they’re “the cheapest product in pharmacies.”

“We see this price sensitivity most clearly among people aged 25 to 75, where consumer spending has declined significantly this year around the Super Bowl,” Bronstein added. Turning to age demographics, Fyllo also noted that purchases by Gen Z consumers increased significantly on February 12, particularly among shoppers between the ages of 21 and 24 (a 10% increase over this age group).

The second most popular product category was described by Fyllo as ‘Pharmacy Equipment’, which saw a 20% increase this year. Plants followed with a plus of 200% and beverages with a plus of 39%. Both topical and edible products declined in sales, down 36% and 25%, respectively. Bronstein believes this is “possibly in response to pricing being driven by higher manufacturing costs, particularly for those looking to optimize the cost of their high.”

Fyllo also found that West Coast sales were down while cannabis sales were up in the eastern and southern states. Sales in Florida rose significantly, up 27%, while sales in Maine rose 17% and Arkansas rose 7%.

While cannabis sales have declined slightly in recent years, it hasn’t detracted from the cannabis-related celebrations on offer in Arizona, home of this year’s Super Bowl.

Trulieve Cannabis Corp.’s recent move to Arizona with the launch of Ricky Williams’ Highsman brand. “Our expansion into Arizona is made possible through our retail partnership with Trulieve and Abundant Organics, whose organic living soil growing techniques produce some of the cleanest, tastiest bud I’ve tasted,” Williams announced last month. “Both partners see Highsman’s vision clearly and share the same passion for physical and spiritual healing as I do. Highsman is for those seeking greatness, mental and spiritual well-being.”

Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers was proud to work with the former NFL player. “Trulieve is excited to launch this limited-time exclusive partnership with legendary NFL player Ricky Williams in Arizona, just weeks before the state hosts the Super Bowl,” Rivers said. “Ricky was known for his belief in the power of cannabis during his playing days, and the Highsman brand reflects his values ​​and passion for cannabis. We are proud to introduce Highsman products to the Arizona market.”

HARA Brands has teamed up with Rolling Stone Live this weekend to also celebrate the Super Bowl. The brand’s CEO and co-founder, Bryan Gerber, expressed his excitement at what this means for the industry. “We are extremely proud to represent the cannabis community at such a high-profile event during one of the biggest weekends in sports and entertainment,” said Gerber. “It’s a testament to how far this industry has come and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of this exclusive experience alongside some of the most successful brands and talented individuals.”

WNBA star athlete Brittney Griner attended this year’s Superbowl with her wife Cherelle Griner. After a 10-month struggle for her freedom after being jailed in Russia for possession of a small amount of cannabis, Brittney was recently named Arizonan’s Woman of the Year by the Republic of Arizona.