Yo, what’s good? My name is Dan and I gotta say, I’ve experienced both cannabis and alcohol and they are hella different. Back in the day, I was a heavy drinker and smoker, but after my pops passed, I stopped smoking weed cos of my religious beliefs at the time. So, I turned to the bottle to deal with the pain. But once I ditched the religious mindset, I started blazing again and cut down on the drinking. My body was already rejecting alcohol before that anyways.
Once I reintroduced cannabis into my life, I saw alcohol as something to just “get a bit fucked” or use like any medium to hard drug. It was only okay sometimes, but not all the damn time. That shift in perspective changed everything for me and made me more mature in how I approached substances.
Recently, Statenews.com published an article about why newer generations are choosing cannabis over alcohol. The article titled “The Science Behind Why Some People Prefer Marijuana to Alcohol,” explores how science might be contributing to this trend.
New Frontier Data conducted a study that found 69% of consumers aged 18-25 prefer cannabis over alcohol products. Both substances can produce similar effects in the body, but they affect the brain and body differently. Alcohol is a depressant that stimulates dopamine activity in the brain while cannabis interacts directly with the endocannabinoid system of the body. The compounds in marijuana are considered less addictive than alcohol.
Americans generally perceive alcohol as more dangerous than marijuana according to a survey by American Addiction Centers. But some people consuming cannabis may not be informed about what goes into the items they are buying from dispensaries. Sociological and cultural factors may contribute to why someone would choose to smoke instead of drink, but science could also be a contributing factor.
The study found that Gen Zers consciously choose cannabis over alcohol and tobacco with more than two-thirds of those aged 18-24 preferring cannabis to alcohol. The largest increase in cannabis consumption came from Baby Boomers whose monthly use increased by 56%. More than half of those aged 18-24 reported replacing some of their alcohol with cannabis, and this trend is set to continue as attitudes towards the plant shift.
One reason for this preference could be that cannabis is perceived as more benign than other substances, and so people see it as a healthier choice. Additionally, cannabis allows people to zone in on activities like gaming, whereas alcohol would negatively impact one’s gaming efficiency. In fact, there are several reasons why Gen Z might prefer weed over other substances, including the growing interest in wellness and self-care among young people. CBD has gained popularity in recent years as a natural remedy for anxiety and stress. Cannabis is also becoming more mainstream and less stigmatized because it’s being legalized across the United States and other countries. Social media has made it easier than ever for young people to connect with others who share their interests, including cannabis use.
While it’s difficult to predict how drug consumption patterns will change over the next few generations, it is clear that cannabis is becoming more accepted and mainstream. We don’t know if this will lead to a more creative and neuroplastic society, but it’s important that we stand together and fight for our rights to use these plant-based technologies.
Gen Z and below need to band together and recognize that psychedelics are essentially the same technology as AI but from an organic perspective. It’s a powerful tool of consciousness that pharma companies are trying to snatch up. We need to switch from beer to bud and push for our rights to use these plant-based technologies so that we can ascend rather than self-destruct.
Boomers, listen up. This Gen Z weed thing is here to stay, so get with the program or get left behind.