More US Women Are Smoking Weed But They're Still Reluctant to Admit It

Multistate cannabis retailer MedMen decided to poll women for International Women's Day and Women's History Month this year. 

The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that more than one-third (37%) of American women aged 21+ consume cannabis, and more than one in four (28%) say they use cannabis once a month or more often. 

Two thirds (65%) of the women who answered that they use cannabis say there are people in their life that still do not know they use it, including their parents (26%), children (22%), and coworkers (21%). 

While 27% of female cannabis users cited "no concerns" regarding their cannabis use, 20% said their biggest concern is drug testing, which continues to happen nationwide by employers and doctors, despite some state laws protecting workers or medical marijuana patients. I don't know if the women were asked about concerns that their parental rights would also be interfered with for using cannabis. 

The top three reasons women said they use cannabis are to relieve anxiety (60%), to help them sleep (58%), and to relieve pain (53%). It's possible women still don't want to admit that they use cannabis recreationally.

“March is a meaningful time to celebrate women and create awareness around issues that matter to them,” said Karen Torres, Chief Product Officer at MedMen. “We know first-hand from our female-identifying employees and customers that women are increasingly turning to cannabis for their health and wellness needs. However, it’s clear that stigmas persist and inhibit us from sharing our experiences freely.” 

While plenty of men probably don't admit they use cannabis to everyone in their lives, the phenomenon may be more prevalent in women. It's been reported on in the past, in stories like "Why Aren't Women at Home in the World of Weed?" (2013) and "Stiletto Stoners," the 2009 Marie Claire story that sparked the founding of the NORML Women's Alliance. 

The times, they are a changin'. The survey found that younger women (aged 21-44) are more than twice as likely to say they consume cannabis (57%) than their older (aged 45+) counterparts (22%). 

Among the other findings: 

• More than 9 in 10 women who use cannabis (91%) purchase it legally at a dispensary.

• 1 in 3 women who use cannabis (32%) spend more than $100 at the dispensary in a typical month; and (35%) of purchasers prefer to shop with a female budtender. 

• Edibles are womens’ preferred method for consuming cannabis (57%), followed by flower/pre-rolls (43%), and vapes (39%).  

The survey polled 1,020 women ages 21+, from February 28 - March 2, 2023.

“The face of the cannabis consumer is changing, and so is the face of MedMen," said Torres. "These results will help us better understand and cater to our female customers and create a welcoming, empowering retail experience. This includes expanding our portfolio of premium women-owned brands.” They might want to also consider changing their name, or their business model. 

According to MJBiz Daily's Women and Minorities in Cannabis Report, "in 2021, the percentage of women holding executive positions in the cannabis industry (22.1%) fell below the average recorded across the larger U.S. business landscape (29.8%). Previously, the portion of executive positions held by women in the cannabis industry consistently outpaced that of mainstream businesses....It’s hard to say for sure what’s driving the change, but some industry experts suggest that competitive markets tend to favor businesses with men in ownership and leadership positions, primarily because of their established access to capital." 

The heavily capitalized MedMen announced recently they were divesting some of their assets, after reporting a working capital deficit of $137.4 million.