Holiday Highs: Why Weed Sales Always Spike Around Christmas

Dashing through the snow, blowing blunt smoke through your nose🎶. Don’t you just love the holidays? You get to take time off work (unless your boss sucks), hang out with loved ones, feast, party, relax, and apparently buy lots of weed and edibles.

According to multiple sources, cannabis dispensary sales surge during the Christmas holidays, making it one of the best months for canna-businesses. But why? What drives festive weed-shopping sprees? We provide answers in this guide and share the top products on the Christmas wishlist of canna-shoppers.

Do Weed Sales Spike During the Christmas Season?

Yes! According to Cova Software, cannabis sales in the U.S. jumped by 14% on Christmas Eve in 2022, while Canada saw an even bigger surge at 54%. Data from Headset shows a similar pattern, with cannabis sales rising about 15% during Christmastime in 2018. However, those gains typically don’t last long, as sales usually dip by around 10% right after Christmas. 

Why the Spike in Cannabis Sales During the Holiday Season?

Several factors drive the surge in holiday weed sales, and the biggest ones include:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

SAD, or the winter blues, typically starts in late fall and eases up by spring. It’s a form of depression triggered by reduced sunlight as winter starts. The condition affects about 5% of U.S. adults, and is more prevalent in states with long, dreary winters, like Maine, New York, and Alaska. Besides lack of sunlight, other reasons people feel down during this period include stress, family tensions, loneliness, and the pressure to stay cheerful.

Since Christmas and winter go hand in hand, weed sales likely rise during this period because people try to smoke away their holiday blues. Studies show that depression is one of the most commonly self-reported reasons for cannabis use, and about 25% of adults with mood or anxiety disorders self-medicate with marijuana.

• Seasonal Discounts

According to Headset, Christmas and the winter holidays come with higher-than-average cannabis discounts. The deals aren’t as big as the discounts you can get on 4/20, but they’re still significant (up to 14% in many places). These holiday discounts help drive sales because, apparently, canna-lovers appreciate a good bargain just as much as anyone else.

• Partying and Holiday Cheer

The Christmas season might have strong ties to religious and familial traditions, but that doesn’t change the fact that ’tis also the season to party. Between office celebrations, family gatherings, Friendsmas hangouts, and end-of-year blowouts, people tend to stock up on their favorite THC products to keep the vibes high. So much so that it’s even birthed the myth of a “Christmas Weed” strain, which is supposedly a festive bud you can only get during the holidays.

• Tourist Activity

Some people choose to spend their Christmas holiday visiting states where cannabis is fully legal. These canna-tourists boost sales in 4/20 states during the holidays, leading to seasonal profits for dispensaries. The more business-savvy dispensaries try to woo out-of-state buyers with holiday-themed strains, including festive dessert varieties and limited-edition edibles.

• Shifting Mindsets

Gone are the days when cannabis was pure taboo. Today, more people see it for its recreational and therapeutic benefits, and with increasing legalization, its use has become more mainstream. This growing acceptance of marijuana has also sparked openness and even enthusiasm for gifting cannabis. And why not? A stocking stuffed with edibles, premium flower, or a cannabis gadget is far more exciting than the usual vanilla Christmas gift.

The growing trend of gifting cannabis during the holidays has helped boost sales during Christmastime. According to a 2020 poll by Glass House Group, the most commonly gifted marijuana items during the holidays include flower, edibles, pre-rolls, CBD products, and vapes. As legalization continues to spread, you can expect this trend to drive even more Christmas cannabis sales in the coming years.

READ: Cannabis Strains That’ll Help Take the Strain Out of the Holiday Season

What Are Canna-Loving Christmas Celebrants Buying?

Surprisingly, the biggest-selling cannabis products during Christmastime are topicals, which saw nearly a 55% increase according to Headset’s 2019 data. These include CBD or THC-infused lip balms, creams, oils, and more.

Next are cannabis-infused beverages and edibles, which saw an impressive 37% sales jump. Among these, mints, cookies, chocolates, brownies, blondies, and cereal bars are the top sellers. This makes sense considering the holidays are a time to indulge, share treats with loved ones, and enjoy festive flavors that elevate the season’s celebrations.

Other products favored by holiday-shopping canna-lovers include vape pens, tinctures, pre-rolls, and capsules. Concentrates and actual flower see the lowest demand during this period, suggesting that consumers prefer convenient, giftable, and ready-to-use products over traditional smokables during the holidays.

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Other Periods with Marijuana Sale Spikes

While the Christmas holidays typically bring a surge in marijuana sales, they’re not the biggest season for cannabis products. That crown goes to 4/20, the unofficial holiday for cannabis enthusiasts, which sees massive spikes in sales, promotions, and special product releases.

According to data from Cova Software, 4/20 in 2023 drove a 95% increase in U.S. cannabis sales, while the 4th of July saw the second-highest boost, with a 51% jump. Canada, on the other hand, sees its biggest sales during Canada Day, 4/20, and Christmas Eve.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Canna-Lovers

Do you need help figuring out what to get your friends and loved ones this holiday season? Check out these cannabis products:

• Holiday-Themed Flower

Nothing says holidays like cannabis that smells like freshly baked cookies or pies. Get your people in the Christmas spirit by gifting them cannabis that smells delicious, like Girl Scout Cookie, Sunset Sherbet, or Gelato strains. These strains offer sweet, dessert-like aromas that fit perfectly with the season’s cozy, indulgent vibe and make an excellent gift for anyone who loves flavorful, uplifting flower.

• CBD Lip Balm

If winters are dry and cold in your area, then you know the horror of chapped lips. Help your loved ones escape this discomfort with a small yet thoughtful gift – CBD lip balm. Like regular lip balm, it moisturizes the lips, preventing splitting and cracking. However, its cannabidiol (CBD) content takes things a step further by soothing irritation, reducing inflammation, and helping the skin recover faster during harsh winter weather.

• Cantrip

Since not every cannabis enthusiast is into smoking or vaping, consider gifting something everyone can enjoy without hesitation. Cannabis-infused beverages are a big hit during the holidays, and one standout option is Cantrip’s THC drinks.

The brand offers a wide range of tasty flavors with varying THC content. Top sellers include bold picks like Dr Cantrip (10 mg THC) with its cherry-and-spice twist, the bright and nostalgic Orange Soda (10 mg THC), and the extra-strength Grape Soda (50 mg THC) for the adventurous.

Cantrip also offers a THC-infused, non-alcoholic spirit for making cocktails or a holiday punch. Just remember to remind your gift recipient to start slow, sip mindfully, and never mix THC drinks with alcohol unless they know exactly how it affects them.

• Jouge Grinder & Cone Loader

Not every cannabis smoker has the gift of rolling the perfect joint. If you have such a friend, fix this by presenting them the Jouge Grinder and Cone Loader this holiday. This nifty device can grind flower evenly, funnel it straight into a pre-roll cone, and save your friend from the struggle of lopsided joints and messy roll sessions.

5. RAW Six Shooter

For the friend who prefers to keep things low-tech and roll multiple joints at once, the RAW Six Shooter is an excellent gift idea. It allows users to fill up to six pre-roll cones at the same time, making it perfect for parties, group sessions, or anyone who just wants to save time and avoid the hassle of rolling each joint individually.

6.     Smokebuddy

Help your friend stay out of trouble by gifting them the Smokebuddy. This personal air filter is perfect for use at home, work, or on the road. Instead of blowing cannabis smoke into the air and drenching yourself or the room in the stench, you exhale into the Smokebuddy. It traps the smoke and odor, allowing for a discreet, clean, and hassle-free smoking experience.

7.     LĒVO II Herb Infuser

With the LĒVO II Herb Infuser, you can decarb and infuse your favorite strains directly into oils, butter, or other cooking ingredients. You can then use those ingredients to make baked goods and other recipes. It’s simply the perfect addition to your loved one’s kitchen this holiday if they enjoy making their own edibles.

8.     Baked Goods

For your friends who hate the kitchen, just gift them already-made cannabis-infused treats. You can make them yourself at home, using one of our recipes. Alternatively, buy your canna-treats online and have them delivered for the holidays. Popular online cannabis bakeries that ship across the U.S. include Mood and ButACake.