Cannabis usage outpaced alcohol for the first time in history this year. What’s actually behind this trend? The increase over the last three decades is partly attributed to the acceptance of cannabis as access, education and inspiration grows. However, anecdotal evidence and hard facts also support the change.

“For me,” says Annette Fernandez, co-founder of High Exposure Agency, a cannabis business development company, “it’s a deeply personal issue because my dad was an alcoholic. When he passed, it was a really huge turning point in my relationship with alcohol.” Fernandez cited how insidious alcohol is in Dominican and Latino cultures. “Even now, when my family gathers together, there’s always alcohol. There is a lot of pressure in alcohol culture, too.’ Oh, come on, let’s do a shot. Let’s do it.’ But there’s still a huge stigma around my cannabis use,” she says. “For me, consuming cannabis and not having alcohol is a bit of a silent protest but also i just feel better. I’ve cut down on empty calories and lost weight. I don’t feel bad the next day and I don’t feel am going into excess.”

This idea of eliminating excess is partly due to the fact that there are a variety of cannabis strains on the market and a number of consumption options–from inhalation to ingestion–that provide exact descriptions of the effects. If your intention is sleep, a gummy that lasts 6-8 hours with THC and CBN works wonders. If you are looking for an immediate joyful experience, then inhaling THC is a great option. The way you consume cannabis has an impact on short- and long-term effects.

Fernandez is not alone. Artist Sean Scott has been “California Sober” since Nov 24, 2019 when he quit drinking alcohol but wanted to keep cannabis as part of his wellness protocol. “I was self medicating with alcohol,” he remembers, “but consumed cannabis as a way to work through neurodiversity issues and that gave me a new perspective.” He was able to be more present in the world and process at normal level with just cannabis…but couldn’t find an AA group that accommodated this idea. He took to instagram and found a community. He reached out to an influencer who sent him 6 videos of himself talking through this idea of California Sober. “But the real moment came when I found a group of cannabis growers and cultivators, who have been sober for 20, 25 years.” He thrived with Garden Therapy: hands in living soil; a patient, meditative practice of growth; light therapy. “Something is happening here,” says Scott. “I don’t know exactly what I it is but my physical health has improved and I found an exit strategy out of the nightmare of alcoholism.”

Science is catching up. A recent viral headline touted a new study that found daily marijuana use actually surpassing alcohol consumption.

Key takeaways from that study:

• More Americans consume cannabis on a daily or near-daily basis than alcohol.
• From 1992-2022, the per capita rate of daily or near-daily cannabis use increased 15-fold.
• Long-term cannabis trends parallel corresponding changes in cannabis policy, with declines during periods of greater restriction and growth during periods of policy liberalization.

Clearly, daily or near-daily cannabis use is now more common than similar levels of drinking in the U.S., according to 40 years of data analyzed by Carnegie Mellon University. This report comes as the Drug Enforcement Administration could reclassify cannabis, which would increase access to funding, research and investment opportunities…as well as allow for mainstream advertising and marketing.

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Kristi Palmer, co-founder and president of Kiva Confections, sums it up best: “Both cannabis and alcohol are often used to relax, socialize and enhance mood. Both are legal (with some local differences). There are some key differences though that can help people make informed choices about their consumption habits and the impact on their lifestyle and health. Though research has been slow because of the categorization of the cannabis plant, there are some studies that start demonstrating that cannabis offers a range of therapeutic benefits including pain relief, anxiety reduction, and improved sleep (in addition to the joyful, euphoric effects many love it for). At the same time, we are learning exponentially more about the harmful effects of alcohol. Seeing a shift from alcohol to more mindful choices speaks volumes about our collective commitment to well-being, especially among my generation and those a little younger.”