Over the course of the past few years we have seen countless ways that the global Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that we live our daily lives.

Whether it was adjusting to the isolation of lockdowns, adjusting to social distancing or trying to figure out how to work remotely and effectively, all of us have likely made decisions to adapt to what we were told was the ‘new normal’ regardless of whether we believed that our governments would ever relinquish their grip on our sense of freedom. From personal experience, I became increasingly aware of my sedentary lifestyle and poor choices when it comes to food, alcohol and exercise but I also adjusted my intake of cannabis and tried to regulate my expenditure.

A recent European study found some interesting parallels when it came to how the pandemic has impacted on people’s use of recreational drugs and indicated that many people are now choosing cannabis over a number of other options. Conducted via an anonymous online survey that questioned candidates on their habits, preferences, regularity of use and reasons for choosing a particular form of controlled substance or prescription medication.

One of the key results from the subsequent data analysis indicated that use of cannabis has increased by some margin while use of ‘harder’ drugs has declined quite significantly. Across much of Europe, the use of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines are quite common in the recreational market (albeit illegally in the vast majority of places) and throughout the past few decades they have accounted for a good proportion of all illicit substance usage. Ecstasy in particular has remained very popular in Europe, so what could be the reason for this sudden shift towards cannabis as the main preference?

While it is impossible to pinpoint the exact reason for this change (people are individuals after all) there are a number of contributing factors that could shed some light on these findings.

Firstly, ecstasy is commonly known as a ‘party drug’ for a number of reasons. It is a mood-enhancer and helps people to connect without too much concern for the opinions of others; it makes many people feel euphoric and excitable which leads to people spending hours talking with stranger or dancing the night away. With this in mind, it could be suggested that the closure of nightclubs and bars essentially took away the key locations for people to fully enjoy the effects of drugs like ecstasy. Getting high on your own can be a very different experience and some people would likely find themselves feeling unsettled and agitated if they started to come up and had nothing to occupy them.

Secondly, there have been numerous reports over the past few years about the increasing strength of ecstasy with a number of high-profile cases involving people who have been hospitalized after taking what would usually be considered a very small dose (e.g. half a pill). With the lack of regulation and the drive for high profit margins on the black market, the various chemicals and additives that ecstasy can be cut with leaves users in a dangerous and difficult situation any time they buy their pills. Even if they have a reputable dealer who they always go to there is no guarantee that somewhere further up the food chain has tried to make a quick buck by cutting in toxic or hazardous substances in order to either bulk out their supply or deliver a more intense high.

You have to remember that many people are unscrupulous and value money over people and it is highly likely that people see cannabis as a ‘safe’ option when compared to some of the other substances that are available illicitly. Of course, there are testing kits and ways that people can check their pills before consumption but this isn’t something which is widely done by individuals. There had been a shift towards testing spots at nightclubs and festivals prior to the pandemic but this is hardly a key priority at this point.

Furthermore, the cost of pills has sky-rocketed in some areas of the world with dealers claiming that higher strength pills are worth the extra cost. The cost of a weekend out on the town can become crippling if there are unexpected spikes in prices and as its generally a seller’s market there is little incentive for prices to drop when supplies are lower and customers become increasingly desperate. In some ways, this is exactly one of the reasons that usage seems to be in decline: where people used to look forward to the weekend as a chance to let off some steam, being stuck indoors for extended periods and coming out feeling increasingly wary of those around us is hardly likely to encourage people back to the party scene in the same way that they used to approach it.

Perhaps this shift towards cannabis as a preference is really just a combination of all the above factors along with a number of developments within the cannabis market itself. People may have access to imports from countries/states where legalization has taken place and the internet opens up so many avenues for consumers to explore that the concept of just buying off a random dealer on the street feels increasingly outdated. I have tried out some social media channels to reach beyond my geographical location with mixed success and even now I find that I’m more likely to buy a larger amount less regularly than to have to worry about sorting out weed on a day-by-day basis (it used to all be part of the daily grind but now I don’t have time for all that).

It also shouldn’t be underestimated in terms of how people may have increased their intake of cannabis or even started using it for the first time simply as a form of respite from the madness we’ve all had to live through. To be honest, I don’t think I would have coped with lockdown anywhere near as well as I did if it wasn’t for the fact that I could always look forward to a joint at the end of the day (sometimes earlier – depending on work, kids etc.) and I would imagine that many others felt the same way. In addition, the changing attitudes around the world mean that cannabis is sometimes seen as a more palatable choice which is increasingly less likely to get you into any sort of real trouble. It all adds up when you think about it, so maybe it’s just a natural evolution in response to everything that’s gone on over the past couple of years.

I used to love going to parties and staying out all night with a few pills to keep me going…now I can’t think of anything I’d probably enjoy more than kicking back in the comfort of my own home with a quarter of something sticky, a bottle of red and some choice videogames. Whatever you choose to do with your spare time, stay safe and be happy.

Written and Published by Psy-23 in Weed World Magazine Issue 157 

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