The sheer amount of Starbucks coffee cups that are sold on nearly every corner in America would seem like an unbeatable number until 2022. According to this year’s MJBiz Factbook, there has been more weed sold than Starbucks coffee. Starbucks is sold in all 50 states, while cannabis is only sold in 39. Despite this, weed sales have utterly dwarfed the coffee giant.
More Weed Sold Than Starbucks: The Growth Of Cannabis
Since 2021, the cannabis industry has seen a 30% climb in sales. The industry has flourished even though the pandemic; stimulating the economy during a time that America desperately needs. According to the New York Post, the cannabis industry added more than 100,000 jobs in 2021. Today, over 400,000 people now work directly in the cultivation or retail of cannabis; showing the increasingly high demand for cannabis in the past couple of years.
The reason behind this jump may be due to cannabis’ reach in many areas of life. People consume cannabis for a variety of reasons. Through a medicinal lens, people use cannabis to potentially help with sleeping, muscle recovery, treatment of anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and far more. The need for cannabis was especially prevalent during the pandemic, which led to 50% of cannabis users increasing their consumption.
While these potential benefits have always been known by cannabis consumers, hearing that more weed has been sold than Starbucks really paints the picture of just how many people are currently using or turning to cannabis.
Recreationally, the plant has an unlimited number of potential uses. The legalization of adult-use cannabis in 39 states has made it easier than ever to buy cannabis. If the federal government were to fully legalize it, the growth of the industry would be insurmountable.
Conclusion
The fact that more weed has been sold than Starbucks illustrates a huge win for the cannabis industry, or at least signals a shift. The growth of the industry in the past two years has aided in the stimulation of the economy while reducing opioid abuse and lending a helping hand to countless Americans.
