{"id":10666,"date":"2025-03-25T00:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T00:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/news\/is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-cost"},"modified":"2025-03-25T00:32:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T00:32:00","slug":"is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Inflation Good or Bad for the Cannabis Industry? &#8211; What Consumers Can Do about Rising Weed Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-costs\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-costs.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"cannabis inflation\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-costs-1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Impact Of <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/news\/is-the-cannabis-industry-inflationproof\">Inflation On Cannabis<\/a> Sales<br \/>What You Can Do About Rising Costs<\/p>\n<p>Inflation affects every industry, including cannabis. However, the impact on the weed industry has surprisingly been mixed in nature because the market is significantly different compared to other consumer-driven industries.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/how-to\/the-price-of-marijuana-is-dropping-fast-here-is-how-to-make-millions\">prices of weed<\/a> have seen a big drop over the past few years, even when we were right smack in the middle of a high inflation period. To drive home a point, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westword.com\/marijuana\/inflation-makes-everything-more-expensive-but-weed-13856672\">January 2021 to April 2022<\/a>, wholesale prices of weed flower saw a 46% reduction, while extraction-grade cannabis buds dropped by 55%. \u00a0Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmarijuana.org\/cannabis-inflation\/\">Oregon and Michigan\u2019s<\/a> cannabis markets saw a drop in prices due to a glut in supply, as well as increased competition among dispensaries.<\/p>\n<p>However, things are looking a bit more glum lately: according to a recent poll, 2 out of 3 cannabis consumers said they now spend less cash on cannabis due to inflation. The poll, which was exclusively shared with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/two-out-of-three-marijuana-consumers-are-buying-less-cannabis-due-to-inflation-poll-finds\/\">Marijuana Moment<\/a>, was conducted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nuggmd.com\/\">NuggMD<\/a>, a marijuana telehealth platform. It involved interviews with 518 cannabis consumers, which took place from February 27 to March 2.<\/p>\n<p>They asked cannabis consumers about their recent spending habits when it came to cannabis, and some 66% of them admitted to putting less cash out now due to higher costs. There was also 34% of consumers who said that despite inflation, they have made no changes to their spending on marijuana. When it comes to the decrease in spending, it isn\u2019t clear if it\u2019s because of the higher prices, or if it\u2019s because of the state of the economy, or a mix of both factors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur poll establishes that inflation is hitting the cannabis consumers hard, which should come as no surprise,\u201d explains Andrew Graham, NuggMD\u2019s head of communications. \u201cRecent polling from Pew shows the share of US adults who have concerns about healthcare affordability has increased by 10 percentage points compared to last year. And, last June, medical inflation began growing faster than overall inflation for the first time since 2021,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to point to rising cannabis costs as a major factor that makes it more difficult for consumers to access essential goods, such as medical marijuana. To add salt to injury, cannabis is still a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level, which means that it can\u2019t be included in insurance coverage. Patients have to pay with their own cash, adding to a seemingly never-ending growth of medical bills.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAcross the board, rising costs are clearly making it harder for Americans to access the health and wellness care they need,\u201d Graham said.<\/p>\n<p>He suggests that IRS Code 280E should be ended by Congress, which will mean that cannabis businesses must pay up to 80% tax rate. \u201cIf lawmakers continue to punt on 280E, then the policy fix could involve shifting the cost burden away from the consumer by mandating insurance policies cover cannabis used to treat qualifying conditions under state-legal programs, adds Graham. The tax savings could then be funneled towards building new dispensaries in areas that lack access, which can also reduce costs associated with travel. Other significant benefits include better wages for <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/find\/dispensary\">dispensary staff<\/a>, and profits can be reinvested into research and development.<\/p>\n<p>What Medical Marijuana Patients Can Do<\/p>\n<p>While it might feel like there\u2019s no other choice but to tighten one\u2019s belt, it\u2019s possible to get creative with your cannabis supply and <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/how-to\/save-your-greens-buying-pot-on-a-budget\">stretch your budget<\/a>, despite the rising prices these days. Here are some things that cannabis consumers an medical marijuana patients can do:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p>Buy in bulk: Purchasing cannabis flower <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/smoke\/7-ways-to-save-money-on-medical-marijuana\">in bulk<\/a> is one of the most efficient ways to reduce the cost per gram. Licensed dispensaries offer great deals and discounts for buying in bulk, which can help stretch your cash.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Buy smaller, budget brands: If you consume other types of cannabis products such as vapes, edibles, oils, and drinks, opt for brands that are less expensive. As long as you are buying from a licensed dispensary, you can have peace of mind that you\u2019re buying quality products that don\u2019t compromise quality.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Experiment with methods that offer bang-for-buck when it comes to your hit: Some cannabis consumption techniques are more cost-effective compared to smoking. If you\u2019re only used to smoking weed, periods of high inflation are a good time to experiment with methods that are novel for you. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/opinion\/what-is-the-best-way-to-store-cannabis-edibles-and-concentrates\">edible cannabis<\/a> products can last up to 4 to 8 hours long, while microdosing enables you to experience the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids more frequently but in much smaller doses.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Learn how to grow your own weed: If you\u2019re able, live in a state that allows home cultivation, and have the budget as well as space, <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/how-to\/what-are-the-benefits-of-growing-your-own-weed\">growing your own weed<\/a> is a fantastic way to become self-sufficient. Despite the initial expenses related to setup costs, home growers can save as much as 75% on flower costs in the long run.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Keep an eye out for the potency ratio: When shopping at a dispensary, look for products that offer great value when it comes to potency per dollar.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Employing these strategies can help cannabis consumers and patients alike save some money when prices are skyrocketing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite the rising prices and economic challenges of the current times, we can look towards the silver linings \u2013 opportunities that exist in the current cannabis landscape. It\u2019s now easier than ever for consumers to find quality products that don\u2019t have to cost an arm an a leg, while big companies are well-positioned to grow their market share. We can also hope that federal rescheduling is in our near future, and hope that the POTUS may have a change of heart somewhere along the way.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>IS CANNABIS INFLATION PROOF, READ ON&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/news\/is-the-cannabis-industry-inflationproof\"><img alt=\"INFLATION AND THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/is-inflation-good-or-bad-for-the-cannabis-industry-what-consumers-can-do-about-rising-weed-costs-2.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.net\/blog\/news\/is-the-cannabis-industry-inflationproof\"><strong>IS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY INFLATION PROOF? READ THIS!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Impact Of Inflation On Cannabis SalesWhat You Can Do About Rising Costs Inflation affects every industry, including cannabis. However, the impact on the weed industry has surprisingly been mixed in nature because the market is significantly different compared to other consumer-driven industries. For example, the prices of weed have seen a big drop over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,1,3,61,1736],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10666"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10666\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}