Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

AskGrowers Weighs in: Cannabis & COVID-19 by the Numbers

AskGrowers Weighs in: Cannabis & COVID-19 by the Numbers

The following guest post was submitted by Tia Moskalenko, Outreach Specialist at AskGrowers.

I’m Tia from AskGrowers, I’d like to enlighten you about the recent stats and facts on COVID-19 and cannabis consumption.

The current stats on COVID-19 are horrific. No one ever expected the outbreak to come this far. By the time of writing this article, over 16.3 million cases have been confirmed on a global level.

We’ve gotten used to using cannabis for a variety of conditions by now. For those of us passionate about plant-based medicine, the following question comes to mind — could it assist in coronavirus treatment?

CBD research gives us some hope. We believe that was one of the reasons retail sales of marijuana increased due to the virus outbreak, but there are others too.

Let’s discuss the facts. 


Has The Consumption of Cannabis Changed Due to COVID-19?

One of the main reasons consumption of cannabis has increased is stress! People from all around the world have spent serious periods of time in lockdown. The situation didn’t leave anyone immune to worrying and boredom.

The World Health Organization has acknowledged the fact that our new reality affects our mental and physical health in a negative way.

People are forced to work from home, but many of them depend on the office environment for productivity. They lack physical contact with colleagues, friends and family. They have to commit to home-schooling for their children. Many were left jobless. All these factors lead to mental and emotional distress.

Various strains of cannabis have been known to help combat anxiety, stress, and depression. It’s only natural for experienced cannabis users to turn to it. However, the significant changes to our daily lives have attracted new users to experiment with mild strains as well.

We have to warn against the excessive use of recreational marijuana with high levels of THC. Along with alcohol, high-risk cannabis use can weaken the user’s immune system. The Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction has warned that this can make the users more susceptible to COVID-19.

Canadian Center on Substance Use and Add

That being said, medical use of CBD-dominant products may do more well than harm (when used in moderation). Current research shows those strains are optimal for combating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and overwhelming stress. However, the dosage is crucial. Research shows two puffs of a CBD-dominant strain are enough to reduce anxiety symptoms. For excessive stress, 10 or more puffs give the best effects.

The important thing to remember? More THC isn’t necessarily better.

In the medical journal Preprints, Canadian researchers published an article discussing the potential of cannabis for assistance in the treatment of COVID-19. The body’s ACE2 receptors are doorways for the virus into the human body. Cannabidiol, an anti-inflammatory ingredient extracted from Cannabis Sativa, could modulate the ACE2 gene expression.

Further, CBD has the potential to treat lung inflammation caused by the virus. The plant’s anti-inflammatory properties are responsible for that. Since the media started publishing the results of these research studies, the sales and use of CBD-based products skyrocketed.

The Stats and Facts: The Connection Between The COVID-19 Outbreak and Cannabis Use

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the USA, sales of cannabis surged in California, Colorado, and Washington State.

According to information published by Statista, the sales of recreational marijuana in California on March 16, 2020 were 159% increased when compared to the sales on the same day in 2019. In Washington State and Colorado, the increase was by 100% and 46%, respectively.

It’s easy to explain this surge with the fact people were stocking up on products during that time. They didn’t know if cannabis dispensaries would stay open. Even when many U.S. states deemed dispensaries an essential business, the users bought larger quantities because they weren’t able to visit the dispensaries as often as they used to.

By generation, Millennials were most likely to increase their cannabis consumption during the COVID-19 outbreak. 40% of the Millennials respondents said that they planned to start using more cannabis to cope with stress.  

You might be wondering: how did this affect the cannabis industry?

Starting January 2020, cannabis stocks showed notable losses. Since March 19, they have bounced back. The cannabis industry is quite liable to changes in circumstances. That’s why the stocks reacted in such a flexible manner. The predictions by investors weren’t optimistic due to the economic slowdown and restricted movement -- losses in revenue were expected. That might be true. A recession is on its way and the future is uncertain for all industries. However, the current data shows that cannabis consumption has increased during these difficult times.  

Cannabis Is Still A Good Thing

Instead of focusing on the cause of coronavirus, we should all strive towards solutions. CBD-based products are great for relieving anxiety, but they can also help us combat COVID-19 by boosting our immunity.

As for the recreational use of THC-based strains, we have to be careful. Boredom and lack of socialization can lead to excessive use and addiction, which we need to prevent.

WANT MORE? Sign Up for The Bluntness Newsletter for your Weekly Dose of Cannabis News

More For You

Will drugs pick up on your cannabis edibles, or no? - The Bluntness

Will drugs pick up on your cannabis edibles, or no? - The Bluntness

Edibles & Drug Dogs

Now that marijuana legalization has gone so widespread, getting pot is just a car ride away for most people in the U.S., even those living in prohibition states.

And by gawd, they are making the drive, too, breaking all sorts of laws by crossing imaginary state lines with real weed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Indica vs. Sativa: Are These Cannabis Labels Outdated? - The Bluntness

Indica vs. Sativa: Are These Cannabis Labels Outdated? - The Bluntness

Indica vs Sativa: The Truth

When you walk into a dispensary, the first question you’re often asked is whether you prefer an “indica” or “sativa” strain. For years, these categories have served as shorthand for cannabis effects: sativas are described as energizing and creative, while indicas are thought to promote relaxation and sleep. But as cannabis science evolves, so does the understanding of what truly influences a cannabis experience—and it turns out that the traditional indica/sativa dichotomy might be more marketing myth than scientific fact.

This article dives into the origins of these terms, the science debunking their validity, and why a new classification system could lead to a better consumer experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Do mangoes really boost the cannabis high?
Do mangoes really boost the cannabis high?

Mangoes and Weed: Can You Boost Your High? It Depends...

Building a high cannabis tolerance is common among seasoned smokers (or consumers in general), but rather than taking a dreaded tolerance break, it might be just as easy as incorporating mango and weed into your next smoke session. 

On their own, mangoes are a tropical stone fruit high in fiber and essential vitamins like Vitamin A, C, and E. They’re also not known for having any sort of psychoactive effect on consumers, so it might sound strange to hear that some people utilize the fruit to increase the intensity of their high. 

Keep ReadingShow less
Ranking Magic Mushrooms by Potency
Ranking Magic Mushrooms by Potency
Tripsitter

Shroom Showdown: Ranking Magic Mushrooms by Potency

From  Psilocybe azurescens to Psilocybe cubensis   — the potency of magic mushrooms varies greatly.

A single gram of one species is enough to shift reality on its axis — the same amount of another may be barely perceptible.

Keep ReadingShow less
How Long Does One Hit of Weed Stay in Your System

How Long Does One Hit of Weed Stay in Your System

How long does one hit of weed stay in your system? You are probably concerned about an upcoming drug test if you're asking this question. Perhaps not something you’d normally fret over, but after taking a hit off a joint last weekend, you are now in full-blown panic mode. Will I lose my job? Could one hit of weed make me fail a drug test? 

In short—don’t panic. We’ve got plenty of information about what factors influence THC detection time and what you can do to pass a drug test.

Keep ReadingShow less