Majority Of Heavy Cannabis Users Are Parents With Minor Children, Says New Study

Just in time for 4/20, a day when the cannabis community celebrates its love of the plant, a new survey finds that one in five Americans consider themselves “heavy users.” This means they smoke three or more times a week. And, to dispel the old “stoner” stereotype that most heavy cannabis users are young men, the study, conducted by Receptor Brands, a cannabis-focused creative services firm, Sister Merci, a Canadian cannabis marketing firm and YouGov, a global opinion and data company, also concludes that 43% of them self-identify as female, 54% are over 35, and 55% are parents of children under 18.

Other findings include:

● Roughly one in eight (12%) Americans consume cannabis daily or multiple times a day;

● 33% percent of daily cannabis users increased their consumption to this rate within the last 12 months;

● 50% are in a committed romantic relationship, including 32% who are married;

● 46% are 18-34 years old; and,

● 54% are 35-55+ years old.

Discussing these findings, Allison Disney noted in a public statement the counterintuitive element to these findings as most of these heavy users did not view themselves as the prototypical “stoners” nor did they associate their behavior with that trope. “These consumers indicate they’re using cannabis weekly or daily for its functional benefits, such as relaxation or sleep , and many of them—especially parents of young children—stepped up their consumption within the past year,” said Disney.

In addition to consumption frequency, the study also focused on the heavy user’s preferences for procuring cannabis, as well as the types of cannabis they routinely consume. Following is a sampling of the findings:

● While the majority of heavy users (51%) purchase from a legal dispensary, 38% source their cannabis illicitly (i.e., unregulated dispensary, mail order, or dealer);

● 26% of heavy users procure cannabis from a friend or family member’s home grow;

● 53% of heavy users prefer to consume flower;

● 39% of heavy users prefer to consume edibles; and,

● Both heavy users and lighter users (those consuming twice a month or less) are likely to try new products when shopping for cannabis, at 77% and 63% respectively.

The study polled nearly 2,800 adult Americans in March 2022.