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

Weed Makes Me Introspective: When Cannabis Causes Us to Reconsider Our Life Choices

Weed Makes Me Introspective: When Cannabis Causes Us to Reconsider Our Life Choices

Pot Prompts Self-Reflection

Being stoned comes with a wealth of side effects – some of which are just part of the fun, while others have been known to get smeared all over a person’s psyche, causing them to gawk out the window every thirty seconds to see if the cops are coming up the stairs.

Perhaps the least discussed byproduct of the bud, however, is its uncanny ability to send the user into a maddening state of introspection. Cannabis can make individuals more attuned to their bodily sensations, emotions, and inner thoughts, which can contribute to this introspective state. Weed can often inspire the high-minded to start questioning their life choices, setting them on a path of self-doubt, self-loathing, and self-destruction.

Keep ReadingShow less
Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball - The Bluntness

Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball - The Bluntness

Coffee & Weed: A Modern Spin on the Hippie Speedball

The wake n’ bake strategy – a well known, stoner approved method for mornings when we need a little somethin’ to pick us up and level us out. When paired with coffee, this method is called the Hippie Speedball, providing a little boost to help you power through your day.

This creative way to describe the pairing of coffee and cannabis is a tried and true method of increasing popularity in our American society that consumes over 400 million cups of coffee per day.

Keep ReadingShow less
How to Make a Cannagar Without a Mold: A Comprehensive Guide. - The Bluntness

How to Make a Cannagar Without a Mold: A Comprehensive Guide. - The Bluntness

How to Make a Cannagar Without a Mold: A Comprehensive Guide

There are so many different ways to consume cannabis, and each method speaks to the kind of consumer you might be. If you're the type of cannoisseur to opt for a blunt, chances are you like your weed with a little kick, which is why a cannagar is the perfect product for you.

What Is A Cannabis Cigar? aka Cannagar

Made from a cannagar mold, cannabis oil, cannabis leaves, and about 4-12 grams of ground flower (depending on how hard you’re willing to go), cannagars are designed to knock you on your ass with sophistication.

Keep ReadingShow less
Discover the Apple Fritter Strain: The Sweet Hybrid - The Bluntness

Discover the Apple Fritter Strain: The Sweet Hybrid - The Bluntness

Apple Fritter: Sweet & Potent Hybrid

Introduction: Discovering the Apple Fritter Strain

Apple Fritter has quickly become a fan favorite in the cannabis community, known for its delightful flavor profile and potent effects. This balanced hybrid strain, believed to be a cross between Sour Apple and Animal Cookies, offers a unique blend of sweetness and strength that appeals to both recreational users and medical patients alike.

If you’re in search of an intensely sweet and euphoric strain, look no further than Apple Fritter. This award-winning cannabis strain is highly regarded for its potent effects and delightful flavors.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Epic Mag Landrace Cannabis from Iran - The Bluntness

The Epic Mag Landrace Cannabis from Iran - The Bluntness

Iranian Weed: Epic Mag Strain

The sprawling mountains of Iran bloom with native flora every year: elms and ironwood trees, tulips and daffodils, even something called Dwarf Eelgrass. But scattered throughout the forests and flowerbeds, like in neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan, another flower has been thriving for thousands of years: cannabis.

Through Iranian genetics sourcing, cannabis in Iran is collected from specific regions, emphasizing the unique and wild plant varieties. Mag Landrace is just one of the Persian nation’s homegrown strains, beloved for its intense indica effects, deep green and purple hues, and abundance of trichomes, resins and oils that make it ideal for smoking and hash-making. It’s finally in the states and available for patients and casual users alike to discover and delight in, and here’s why.

Keep ReadingShow less