Are Baby Boomers Being Taken Advantage of by Marijuana Dispensaries?
A study was recently conducted to get estimates on the age demographics of people purchasing legal marijuana in the state of Washington. Unsurprisingly, younger generations buy the most cannabis, but the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers are willing to spend more. Perhaps the Silent Generation simply learned the value of quality products over time. Why do you think the older generations are willing to spend more on legal marijuana products?
Legal marijuana sales in Washington State have provided academics a rather unique opportunity – the ability to analyze and examine marijuana sales by demographics. Market data company Headset confirmed in their October report what most already suspected – “Cannabis is most popular with Millennials.”
Gathered from Headset’s database of customers, who voluntarily registered for a Washington State rewards programs, the study assessed the buying habits of four age groups, scrutinized their “brand preference,” and identified any age-related “price sensitivity.”
For the study, the company dissected Washington State’s recreational sales for September and categorized purchases in four demographics: Millennials (Under 35), Generation X (35-53), Baby Boomers (54-75), and the Silent Generation (Over 76).
By utilizing their proprietary data points, Headset’s report reveals how much legal weed was purchased in the Evergreen State … and just who was buying all that pot.
Primarily appealing to those with the XY chromosome, the report indicates that men bought way more weed than females. Out purchased by more than a 3 to 1 ratio for the month of September, men participated in 77.87 percent of Washington’s marijuana purchases, while females accounted for 22.13 percent of all recreational sales.
Men purchased significantly more marijuana products during September than females
Though each group purchased its fair share of THC-laced beverages, capsules, concentrates, edibles, and tinctures during September – 62 percent of all in-state flower purchases were made by Millennial men. For the Silent Generation, those strains highest in CBD, as well as tinctures and topical ointments, topped their shopping lists.
Concentrates were most popular among Millennials
Popular across all demographics, Washington’s Hybrid strains smoked both Indica and Sativa in total sales for the month of September.
Hybrid, Sativa, or Indica?
Now that we have a greater understanding of who bought the most pot in the Evergreen State during September, let’s examine the year-over-year trend. Since September 2016, the average purchase amount has declined across all demographics. With the novelty of legal marijuana now gone, the sale of cannabinoid-related products has decreased for all four demographics.
What were the most popular marijuana strains in September?
Average ‘Basket Size’ by demographics
Dictated by disposable income, the report indicates the Silent Generation spent $7.22 more per item than their cash-strapped cohorts.
Senior citizens spent more per pot product
Headset’s report discovered that marijuana consumers — at least the legal ones in Washington — have fiscal constraints. While Millennials were most likely to buy inexpensive products (under $10), Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation have a tad more disposable income to play with at Washington State dispensaries.
Who’s Buying All That Pot a Look at the Demographics of Cannabis Consumers 2017 by Monterey Bud on Scribd
Born in Long Beach, raised on the central coast: I surf, dab, burn, and blog – though not necessarily in that order. I’m a husband, a father and a lifelong consumer of connoisseur grade weed. I don’t drink alcohol or consume any other “drugs.” I consider myself to be living proof that weed is not a gateway drug. If it were, I’d be in some serious trouble. Instead, as a 50-year-old ex-realtor that has been smoking weed for nearly 80% of my life (just did the math) … I can only say, marijuana is safer than prescription pills or alcohol could ever hope to be for calming what stirs the savage beast.
