Did More People “Spark Up” due to the Pandemic?
Since its legalization in 2012, cannabis has become deeply rooted in Colorado culture and is a hot commodity for many residents. Fast-forward to 2020, with the Covid pandemic in full effect, the people of Colorado have no choice but to isolate themselves and forget about social interactions. Due to this isolation period, many Coloradians are using weed to pass the time, as sales have only increased since Covid hit our country. Seeing this increase shows that cannabis is being used as a tool to help people through the pandemic. It should be seen as a necessary and beneficial treatment for mental health and Covid symptoms.
Cannabis has been used as a supplemental form of medicine for thousands of years. In western society, it was seen as harmful and detrimental to brain development until recently. In the past 20 years, there have been 19 states to legalize cannabis recreationally. These states are setting a standard for weed to be something more than just a fun drug, but as a treatment to help people through their daily lives. The pandemic caused a lot of hardship for people whether it was physically, financially, or mentally. The people living here in Colorado are discovering how Cannabis can help to combat these hardships.
As we all know in March of 2020, Covid swept through our nation causing a mass panic and lockdown for almost every major population center. The pandemic affected everyone in different ways and with the majority of people stuck at home, there was not a lot people could do. In normal circumstances, there are lots of things going on in everyday life to keep people busy, but with everyone inside and unable to see family and friends, the mental health of many began to dwindle. While many industries saw a loss of profits, the one that rose above was the marijuana industry with a 74% increase in sales from pre-pandemic to 2022. There are many different reasons for this increase, and one reason is that it helps people relax from their stressful lives during this time.
The main reason for this increase is because of the mental health benefits of cannabis. The non-psychoactive component, CBD, has been proven to help with stress and pain relief. The amount of stress people faced was heightened during the pandemic and this caused the public to look for other ways to relieve it. Many people utilized weed as a true stress-reliever and this helped them to get through these trying times. The other component of marijuans, THC, was used to help the mind relax and forget about the different issues going on in one’s personal life.
The pandemic saw a rise in convenience services like no contact shopping, deliveries, and remote services. The cannabis industry took advantage of this by offering dispensary delivery services so anyone can have access to it. The cannabis industry thrived off of deliveries and this pumped up their sales numbers. With most of the population stuck indoors, this provided a safe and efficient way to deliver people their medicine. Using cannabis as a medicine for Covid is not something that the CDC recommends, but there have been many studies on its effectiveness. Since Covid is a disease that particularly attacks the lungs and respiratory system, the igniting of cannabis is not an effective treatment. These dispensaries however, provide alternative ways of consuming cannabis such as teas or edible foods that contain cannabis. Studies have shown that consuming cannabis can help alleviate some of the pains and aches that come along with Covid. Once people found out about these studies, they were rushing to place orders.
This rise in cannabis use is not just an industry trend, but a gateway to new studies to be done on the plant and its abilities. The numbers show just how much demand there is for cannabis, and the pandemic fueled this demand even further. The country should take seriously how beneficial this plant can be for the overall health of Americans. With all of the benefits from cannabis, why are they only being enjoyed by 19 states? The pandemic affected the entire country and the rest of America should be allowed access to these treatments.
