By Ruth Hill, R.N.
Although alcohol remains more widely used overall, first-time daily marijuana users surpassed drinking in 2022, with approximately 17.7 million cannabis users vs 14.7 million drinkers. This trend continued into 2024 due to the low cost and legalization of recreational marijuana in more states.
Research from the University of Georgia, for instance, found that alcohol sales decreased by as much as 15% in states that legalized medical marijuana. Meanwhile, a multinational investment bank similarly stated in a report late last year that marijuana has become a “formidable competitor” to alcohol, projecting that nearly 20 million more people will regularly consume cannabis over the next five years as booze loses a couple of million drinkers. It also states that marijuana sales are estimated to reach $37 billion in 2027 in the US as more state markets come online.
Speaking to the Associated Press about the report, Caulkins said that roughly 40 percent of consumers use marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis, which he called “a pattern that is more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use.”
Another study out of Canada, where marijuana is federally legal, found that legalization was “associated with a decline in beer sales,” suggesting a substitution effect. A separate survey released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult last June also found that Americans consider marijuana to be significantly less dangerous than cigarettes, alcohol, and opioids, and they say cannabis is less addictive than each of those substances.
At the state level, the US cannabis sales have also been outpacing booze in several legal jurisdictions. A separate study published in November also found that marijuana legalization may be linked to a “substitution effect,” with young adults in California “significantly” reducing their use of alcohol and cigarettes after California enacted cannabis reform.
How Do Cannabis Drinks Compare to Alcoholic Beverages?
There is a marked difference between the two beverages, particularly through a health lens, as alcohol leads to liver disease, addiction, cancer, and cognitive decline. Less research exists on cannabis cocktails, though chronic use of cannabis can have impacts on memory and mental health.
While some data indicates that there has been a decline in violent crime and car accidents in areas where these products are accessible to adult consumers, there is a lack of research and traceable data that would provide more definitive trends and patterns. With alcohol in decline, distributors and retailers view Delta-9THC beverages as an alternative that fills their trucks and retail shelves.
Who Is Drinking Cannabis Cocktails?
Consumption of cannabidiol (CBD) cocktails is growing in multiple demographics. The most significant growth is among the ‘soccer mom,’ 35-50 years old. Younger consumers are driving increased demand. There is growing adoption of living an alcohol-free lifestyle, especially within the millennial and Gen Z communities. All of these key growth drivers benefit cannabis beverages and their popularity.
CBD Drink
At the Gracias Madre restaurant in West Hollywood, California, on April 19, 2018, drinks, including CBD extract with a marijuana leaf motif, were served. Are cannabis cocktails viable replacements for alcoholic drinks? While still a nascent category, cannabis-infused beverages are an exciting alternative to alcohol and continue to grow in popularity as production increases. The people will always stand behind a well-made alcoholic cocktail. Still, cannabis cocktails make a fantastic alternative, especially when served with a low dose of THC.
Cannabis-infused drinks will never fully replace alcoholic beverages. Cannabis and alcohol are NOT to be ingested together as the THC or CBD will enhance the potency of alcohol. Similarly, State cannabis licenses Never include alcohol and vice versa.
THC-Infused Beverage Companies are recruiting 2,000 People to drink free cannabis seltzers as an alternative to alcohol for a study described as an “observational research study” around cannabis-infused drinks, alcohol consumption, mood, and quality of life.
The company describes the “groundbreaking” research as the “world’s first functional beverage study,” aimed at “exploring THC beverages as a wellness alternative to alcohol.” Brands backing the study include BRĒZ, Nowadays, Cantrip, Death Row Records’s Do It Fluid, Iconic Tonics, Hippie Water, STIIIZY, and others. The data so far does not threaten the alcohol industry.
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