More Americans are turning to cannabis instead of alcohol this Thanksgiving as society gets more comfortable with the idea of recreational weed.
The day before Turkey Day is the second-biggest day of the year for legal marijuana sales.
Many have even dubbed it Green Wednesday. With nearly half of US states now permitting recreational marijuana, the industry has grown to over $30 billion in 2024, according to cannabis-market tracker BDSA.
Notably, alcohol use in the US has fallen to its lowest level in decades. Investors have pulled roughly $830 billion from major alcohol companies over the past four years as consumer habits shift.
In a September survey by Bloomberg Intelligence, 51% of respondents said they now substitute alcohol with cannabis at least weekly, which is 5% up from last year. People’s attitude towards weed is changing as they see the adverse health effects of alcohol.
Families increasingly incorporate THC beverages, edibles, and even cannabis-infused dishes into holiday routines.
Hemp-derived THC seltzers have grown especially popular due to a legal loophole. Though that may narrow after a federal ban on intoxicating hemp products takes effect in 2026.
Experts remind users that traveling with cannabis across state lines remains illegal and that safer coping strategies ( taking breaks or breathing exercises) are important to manage stress during familial gatherings.