In recent years, the landscape of both cannabis consumption and food delivery has undergone a significant transformation. With the increasing legalization and normalization of cannabis use, coupled with the rise of delivery apps, a notable trend has emerged. This is the undeniable correlation between cannabis consumption and the surge in orders for fast food through delivery platforms.
The Cannabis Culture
Once associated with stigma and legal restrictions, cannabis has undergone a remarkable shift in public perception. The legalization of recreational and medicinal cannabis in various regions has paved the way for its acceptance and integration into mainstream culture. Today, cannabis is not merely a substance; it represents a lifestyle and a community. The rise of cannabis influencers, events, and dedicated social spaces underscores its burgeoning cultural significance.
Cannabis Usage Statistics
According to the polling organization Gallup, about half (50%) of American citizens have tried the drug marijuana at some point in their lives, which, by the way, is a record-breaking marijuana popularity. Meanwhile, almost one out of every six people in the nation (17%) report that they now “smoke marijuana,” citing Gallup’s historical data as the highest on record.
According to a 2023 research conducted by Harris Poll for MedMen, half (37%) of US women aged 21 and over choose to indulge in cannabis consumption. The survey revealed the majority of women use cannabis as a therapeutic measure; nearly two-thirds (60%) admit it for anxiety busters, half (58%) for insomnia alleviation, and more than half (53%) for pain relief.
Interestingly, a large mention of female marijuana users tries to keep the use of their commodity a secret, with numbers estimated at 65% of them notifying their relatives and friends, such as parents, children, and colleagues, of their marijuana use.
The legalization of cannabis is now prevalent across most of the United States, as indicated by Pew Research. More specifically:
- 54% of American folk live in the States, where recreational marijuana use is legalized.
- Only 74% of USA residents live in the regions where both recreational and medical marijuana is legal.
- With about 79% of Americans living in counties that house at least one dispensary and nearly 15,000 dispensaries across the country, exposure to this phenomenon is dramatic.
California remains the top state with the maximum number of dispensaries. At the time of the analysis, 3,659 of them were double the number of the following ranking states.
Recent findings have shown that around 60% of the marijuana dispensaries in America are located in California, with just one dispensary not being within 60 miles of each Californian (99.5%). Based on figures in Los Angeles County, the dispensary alone can account for the total number of stores available.
Pre-rolling has quickly become the product group of the moment, coming second to Flowers and Vapor Pens on the popularity chart of the states. Their reach has experienced a massive uptick ever since the beginning of 2022. The Headset report shows that US pre-roll sales went 13.4% higher from January to August 2023 compared to the numbers in 2022.
However, the industry showed the most considerable growth compared to concentrates and edibles. In addition, pre-roll shares of overall sales soared by 32% from January 2022, helping them hold 15.3% of total sales in the US.
According to Headset, which processes industry data, Gen Z and Millennials together contributed 62.8% of US recreational cannabis sales and 70.8% of Vape Pen sales. The young Generation Z, who have grown comfortable with vaporizers, would like to shift their cannabis habits, which could be responsible for the lower number of teenagers using Vape Pens.
CivicScience has conducted an in-depth study that established that 21% of individuals who partake in Dry January (a trend where members quit alcohol for a month) use marijuana and CBD products as alternatives. This survey responded to the fact that a majority of people who swapped alcohol with cannabis were those whose ages ranged between 21 and 24 (34%), followed by people aged 25-34 (24%).
These findings implicate that it is the young people who are the growing demographic who now fancy taking up cannabis over their traditional alcohol choice. This trend has been witnessed since the onset of the pandemic.
Increased Cannabis Use Boosting Demand For Delivery Apps
According to a recent study conducted by Numerator, the daily consumption of marijuana is significantly influencing consumer spending habits. The research, based on nearly 6,000 cannabis users, reveals that these individuals are increasing their purchases of frozen food and relying more heavily on delivery apps such as DoorDash. Uber Eats compared to the average consumer. Notably, a popular choice among them for delivery is Little Caesars pizza.
The study indicates that consumers who use marijuana with psychoactive THC tend to be younger and have lower incomes. Around two-thirds of them use marijuana a few times per week, with 38% reporting daily use. They allocate more of their grocery budget to snacks and beverages, particularly sports and energy drinks, beer, frozen sandwiches, spirits, pizza, and appetizers.
Numerator’s press release highlights that daily THC users show even more pronounced preferences across various product categories. Notable differences include increased candy consumption, herbs & spices, frozen potato snacks, and packaged sweet snacks.
The impact of cannabis use on alcohol consumption appears mixed, with more frequent marijuana users spending less on alcohol compared to infrequent users. Surprisingly, over a third of THC users claim to have reduced their alcohol consumption since starting to use cannabis. However, they still outpace non-users in alcohol purchases overall.
The rise in demand for delivery services and fast food is evident, with THC users showing a greater likelihood of patronizing limited-service restaurants and using food delivery apps in the preceding three months. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Little Caesars emerge as some of the most frequented options.
The study also contrasts CBD users, who typically skew older and have higher incomes, often seeking to manage health issues with the non-psychoactive compound of marijuana known for its relaxing properties. (Full Story)