COVID-19 causes us to smoke more weed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world across many different sectors, impacting everything from public health to the global economy. One area of impact that might be surprising is the cannabis industry. Is COVID-19 making us smoke more weed? In short, yes.

First, it is important to understand the context of these trends. In 2012, Colorado became one of the first states in the United States to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Since then, the marijuana industry has exploded, with billions of dollars in annual sales. This industry has created jobs, tax revenue, and new entrepreneurial opportunities for Coloradans.

Meanwhile, in late 2019, the COVID-19 virus began spreading around the world. By March of 2020, the virus had reached Colorado, and the state quickly became a hotspot for the disease. The pandemic had a profound impact on daily life in Colorado, leading to shutdowns, mask mandates, and other measures meant to slow the spread of the virus.

So how are these two trends related? One of the main reasons for the increase in cannabis sales during the pandemic is that people have been spending more time at home. With lockdowns and social distancing measures in place, people have been seeking additional ways to pass the time and relax in the comfort of their own homes. For many Coloradans, this has meant turning to cannabis as a means of stress relief, relaxation, and entertainment.

In addition to this, the closure of bars and nightclubs has also led to an increase in cannabis sales. With fewer opportunities for social interaction and activity outside of the home, people have been looking for alternative ways to unwind and have fun. Cannabis use can provide a similarly pleasurable sensation to alcohol, and has become an increasingly popular choice for those who want to ditch the hangover.

The assertion that ‘COVID makes us smoke more weed’ is not without its limitations, however. For one, it is based purely on observational data and cannot prove causation. Additionally, my research did not account for other potential factors that could influence COVID-19 transmission, such as population density, demographic characteristics, and compliance with public health guidelines.

We can see this departure from the linear correlation between monthly COVID cases and marijuana sales, particularly in Denver County, which is an outlier in terms of its cannabis-related revenue. Specifically, the average marijuana sales in Denver County between March 2020 and January 2022 were approximately 10 times higher than the average across all Colorado counties. This suggests that there may be unique factors at play in Denver County that contribute to its high levels of marijuana sales, and that these factors may not be present in other counties throughout the state.

While it is evident that there is some degree of positive correlation between marijuana sales and COVID-19 cases across Colorado, it is interesting to note that this relationship appears to break down in counties with larger populations. To exemplify this, let’s take a closer look at Denver and Arapahoe Counties, which have the highest average monthly cannabis sales at $42 million and $15 million, respectively. In addition to the counties’ high weed sales, they also happen to be the second and third most populated counties in Colorado as of 2020. This indicates that the correlation between marijuana sales and COVID-19 cases may be impacted by a multitude of additional factors, such as population density, availability of testing resources, and access to dispensaries. Therefore, it may not be entirely accurate to conclude that an increase in COVID cases inevitably leads to higher cannabis sales in all counties across Colorado.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the cannabis industry in Colorado, leading to an increase in sales due to the closure of social gathering places and people seeking additional ways to relax and unwind at home. However, it is essential to note that the relationship between COVID-19 cases and marijuana sales is not entirely straightforward, and there may be other underlying factors at play that influence the correlation between the two. It is crucial for researchers to continue studying this relationship to better understand how the pandemic has affected the cannabis industry and how it may continue to evolve in the future.