More women are consuming cannabis recently. But why does the plant appeal to females so much? Photo Credit: real_content.
As cannabis becomes more accessible, more women are consuming the plant.
Many use cannabis to improve their mental and physical health, such as sexual health, insomnia, PMS, anxiety and menopause. Women also enjoy using cannabis as a form of self-care or to simply feel relaxed.
In fact, from 2020 to 2021, female cannabis consumers increased by 55% in the U.S., according to Green Market Report.
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As a result, women are shaping the cannabis industry, the Robb Report explains.
In fact, two in five American women use cannabis-based products, according to Bizwomen Business Journals. Around 45% said they have started using cannabis more due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, many young people used cannabis during the pandemic to cope with anxiety from isolation, according to Verywell.
Gen Z Consumers on the Rise
With the de-stigmatization of cannabis in today’s generations, many recent cannabis consumers are Gen Z, aged 10-25. In fact, members of this generation are driving sales.
Although most Gen Zers are not 21 yet, those who are accounted for 12.7% of cannabis sales in the beginning of 2021, Cheddar News reports. Baby boomers, those aged 57-75, only accounted for 12.2% during the same period.
According to data from Headset, Gen Z women who purchased cannabis in 2020 grew by 151%, compared to Gen Z men who only increased by 118%. Experts attribute this growth to the fact that Gen Zers are turning 21 and gaining access to legal weed.
Gen Z consumer and 21-year-old Sophia Malcolm, whose name she asked Emerald to change due to cannabis’ illegal recreational status in Florida, shared why she likes to use cannabis.
“I like how weed makes my mind go blank and lets me be more in the moment and makes things funnier or just more entertaining for some reason,” Malcolm tells Emerald. “If I am in an anxious situation, weed helps only because it is familiar.”
Malcolm says when using substances like MDMA or psychedelics, she might feel anxious or excited for it to kick in. In those situations, she adds, smoking cannabis centers her because it is so familiar to her.
“At times it enhances experiences either physically — like feeling the sun, or mentally — like making a TV show even funnier,” Malcolm added.
Potential Health Benefits
Women are using cannabis not only for recreational purposes but also for its positive effect on conditions such as anxiety, anorexia, attention difficulties, cancer, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Veriheal. Many mothers also report it helps with the stress of parenting.
Cannabis also appeals to consumers because it may provide relief from chronic pain or help with conditions ranging from diabetes, to autism and ADHD, reports the Medical Cannabis Network.
Female consumers specifically may also use cannabis to help provide relief from pregnancy, postpartum depression and gynecological conditions, such as menstruation and menopause, USA Today explains. Research suggests that cannabis has pain-relieving, mood-stabilizing and anti-nausea properties that can help alleviate the symptoms these conditions may cause.
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Kayla Gonzalez, a 21-year-old art student, shared how using cannabis medicinally helps improve her mental health.
“I’m an individual who has anxiety and depression which can often manifest itself in different forms whether that be lack of eating or sleeping as well as further extremes,” Gonzalez tells Emerald. “I feel that cannabis has allowed me to reclaim a part of myself that the mental illnesses consume. It gives me that extra push that I need to be more productive and generally treat myself better that I don’t have the energy to do otherwise.”
Why are Women Drawn to Cannabis?
While the number of male entrepreneurs and consumers in the cannabis industry currently outweigh women; women outpace men when it comes to the growth of their companies and the types of products they consume, such as gummies, vape cartridges and topical products. In some states, however, women do outpace men in terms of sales.
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Kate Miller, co-founder and CEO of Miss Grass, an online publication covering modern women in cannabis, told the Robb Report how cannabis culture plays a part in many aspects of women’s lives, such as health, work, beauty and food.
“Women are drawn to the emerging cannabis industry because it allows them to launch businesses that combine commerce with caring,” Miller told the Robb Report.
Female cannabis entrepreneurs bring a certain value to their products and audiences. This is especially true when it comes to how they market and design their products.
One female-owned brand, Yummi Karma, offers healthy and luxurious products, such as its Plain Jane Tincture — CBD drops that can help induce relaxation and calmness.
Kiva Confections, another women-owned brand, sells edible cannabis products such as gummies, chocolates and mints. For example, their Camino Watermelon Lemonade Gummies can help enhance energy and happiness.
The female influence on cannabis consumption is impacting the way companies package and distribute it, reports NBC News. The new trends are well-designed packaging, clear and regulated information labels, lab-tested ingredients, standardized dosing and modern branding. Women are simultaneously using cannabis recreationally and in their careers. The plant’s consumer reputation has evolved from the lazy stoner stereotype to the average productive American.
Popular Products
Some widely used cannabis products include CBD oil, beauty and skincare products, beverages, edibles and even dog treats.
However, female consumers are most drawn to sustainable and exclusive products with an aesthetic appeal, reports Forbes.
For example, some of these products may be vintage-styled bongs, topical oils to enhance arousal and relaxation, products that aim to relieve cramps and even THC and CBD-infused wine.
Other female-owned products women are drawn to for self-care purposes are mints and tinctures that aim to improve focus or balance, brownies, teas and even frosting.
Overall, research shows that while men spend more on flower and concentrates, women spend more on beverages, capsules, tinctures, and topicals, Marijuana Business Daily explains.
The Future is Female
While all sexes can use most cannabis products, women drive growth and sales in the wellness sector of this industry. They’re even outpacing men in sales of certain recreational products. Maybe that’s because traditional medical experts often dismiss womens’ needs. Whatever the reason, women drive consumer behavior on a larger scale.
One thing is certain — “the future of cannabis is female,” Bethany Gomez, the managing director at Brightfield Group, tells Veriheal. She states that “shifting public attitudes and increasingly sophisticated design and packaging” is driving this.
With so many female-owned cannabis companies on the rise, women are transforming the industry. They are redefining cannabis use as a form of holistic medicine and self-care, reports SUSTAIN magazine.
Overall, research shows that women are discovering a multitude of uses for the cannabis plant. They are using it to help improve their mental, physical and sexual health; enhance focus and productivity; and make time to relax and take care of themselves. As they do, they’re de-stigmatizing and supporting the multi-billion dollar industry.
The future of cannabis is unpredictable; claiming it for one gender is cruel because We the Patients all deserve opportunities to titrate God/s/Allah’s/The buddha’s/Mother Nature’s/Mother Earth’s medicine please 🙂