
There is no denying that this year has been a rollercoaster. Between pandemics, mass protests, and an uncertain economy, we have all had our fill of stress—and that was just the first six months. The whole world is adjusting to a new normal, cannabis users included, and finding ways to cope.
Quarantine Hobbies
Despite being stuck at home for the majority of 2020, almost 40% of cannabis users have less than 10 hours of free time per week, according to a report by Brightfield Group. Around 25% are free over 20 hours per week, but you can bet both groups are using their time to relax.
Cannabis users enjoy similar hobbies to everyone else, including watching TV (61%), watching movies (56%) and listening to music (60%). Like many of us with a heartbeat and an Internet connection, the majority of cannabis users have a Netflix subscription (80%) and spend a lot of time on YouTube. Naturally, these hobbies and cannabis use usually occur simultaneously. Only 5% of respondents said they didn’t imbibe in some sort of cannabis before, during, or after watching TV or movies.
Another way cannabis users are coping with this year’s unique brand of stress is exercise. Around 29% reported working out as a hobby. Yoga, running, and hiking are the most common active hobbies, both of which are usually performed at home or outdoors, so with around 50% saying they prefer to exercise alone, social distancing hasn’t cramped their style too much. Besides, 32% of cannabis users say they enjoy outdoor activities, so pandemic restrictions may help expand their fitness horizons.
COVID-19 and CBD
More than anything, consumers appear to be emphasizing self-care. In a report analyzing the habits of CBD users during COVID-19, Brightfield Group analyzed social media posts involving the two search terms and saw that self-care was the most common thing discussed in the posts, with stress and anxiety coming into second place after March. Anxiety is the most common ailment reported by CBD users (53%), followed by depression at around 33% and insomnia at 25%.
Users with anxiety generally gravitate towards vapes and edibles. Vapes provide a quick dose of CBD for more acute symptoms, like feeling anxious after scrolling through Twitter for too long. Edibles can be taken in the morning for all-day relief. Brightfield Group’s report found that 41% of CBD users don’t want to spend more than $30 on each product, however, 39% take it more than five times per week at a dose of under 50 mg (41%).
As consumers settle in for the holidays, taking time for relaxation and self-care is more important than ever. Luckily for retailers, cannabis users appear to be using cannabis to supplement their much-needed rest and recovery from 2020.