Update On Cannabis’ Impact On Wine Sales: Don’t Worry At All
KMOV Chicago reports that cannabis sales are WAY up during the pandemic. It also reports this anecdotal explanation from Katie Johnston-Smith, an Illinoisan who is helping boost the sale of Cannabis by using cannabis a couple times a week rather than a couple times per month to overcome anxiety:
“It was pretty nice because it did help me mellow out. I was like, ‘Oh, this is way better than mellowing out with a glass of wine.‘”
The wine industry shouldn’t worry about or take note of this at all. As we have now heard for a number of years, cannabis legalization won’t really impact wine sales. Well, except for Ms. Johnston-Smith. Her new habit will impact wine industry sales. Well, and maybe her friends, who she’s been sharing with and encouraging. And, maybe the other young women who prefer the mellow high of cannabis to the calories and buzz of wine.
But we shouldn’t really worry about that either. There can’t be more than 30 million or so women in the U.S. between 25 and 40 years of age.
It’s all beside the point, however, since we are likely 10 years away from every state allowing recreational sales of cannabis and, along with it, interstate sales and distribution of the substance. And that shouldn’t impact wine sales at all….no, not at all.
Manage the threat and opportunity and come out well in advance of all who worry about it.