Cannabis Consumption Reflects Dramatic Changes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
November 22, 2020COVID-19 Affects Cannabis Consumers’ Mental Health, Social Use Practices
November 30, 2020
- The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled widespread changes in the social consumption of cannabis among those who use it at least once a year.
- Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those consumers reported some change in their use of cannabis with others; of the 28% who reported no change, some likely continued sharing with others in their household (i.e., pod), or did not previously consume with others.
- During the pandemic, 1 in 5 consumers reportedly stopped using cannabis with others, and 1 in 10 stopped consuming entirely; among those who only ever used cannabis socially before the pandemic, 33% have not consumed it since, underscoring the cohort’s reliance on friends as sources.
- The pandemic has affected the mental health of many cannabis consumers: 38% of consumers said that their mental health has worsened during the pandemic, with 19% reporting that it has improved.
- Nearly half (48%) of female and (46%) of 18-34-year-old consumers reported that their mental health has worsened, compared to 29% among males and 33% of ages 35+ (both female and younger consumers were also more likely to report having fair or poor mental health in absolute terms).
- More than half (52%) of consumers reported consuming cannabis specifically to improve their mental health during the pandemic; that practice was more prevalent among consumers under 55 (58%), or among those with children under 18 living at home (63%).
