America is having quite the moment. Headlines about deportations and mass federal firings have left many devastated, some even hopeless. The American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll showed that Americans were more anxious than ever in May 2024. About two-thirds of people polled were “particularly anxious” about the economy, the election, gun violence, and current events.
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“Living in a world of constant news of global and local turmoil, some anxiety is natural and expected,” APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., said in the poll results. “But what stands out here is that Americans are reporting more anxious feelings than in past years.”
These fears have only grown since then as the stock market yo-yos and President Trump celebrates a growing foreign mega-prison that he hopes to send Americans to. As many Americans seek out mental health strategies to work through a downright stressful period in time, new data shows that many are turning to pot.
Americans smoke more weed because of the Trump administration
The Harris Poll conducted a survey on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds (RQS), one of the largest seed banks in the world. They polled over 2000 adults over 21 from March 13-17, and 782 self-identified as cannabis consumers. This was measured by them having ever consumed cannabis.
This survey covered hobby home grow interest and trust in the modern cannabis market. It also detailed why people are smoking, eating, and vaping their weed these days–and Trump has played a role for almost a majority of them.
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When asked about their cannabis use, 50 percent of cannabis consumers are adamant that the current presidential administration will lead them to consume more. Women were more sure. 59 percent of women aged 21 to 34 stated that President Trump, DOGE, and friends were likely to make them get stoned more often. Follow-up information on why the DOGE era in the American government would make people get higher was not covered.
What this poll shows is that this year, Americans may be turning to weed in hopes that it actually helps relieve stress. While it may not be a happy reason, maybe this dedicated consumer base will be a small silver lining as tariffs, potential potency caps, and other challenges get thrown at the cannabis industry.
