Q: How is #ALpolitics similar to Portland, OR?
Posted by Warm Southern Breeze on Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Portland, Oregon and Birmingham, Alabama couldn’t be further apart in many ways – geographically, and politically, particularly. However, recent research show that one attitude in particular is very similar.
And that is, resident’s thoughts about cannabis in the two states’ largest cities are very similar.
Houston, Texas-based survey firm Consumer Research Around Cannabis found also that contrary to Hollywood portrayal, the typical cannabis consumer is a responsible adult with a six-figure household income.
The popular image of marijuana users as “stoners” or “party animals” is a misconception according to national research firm Consumer Research Around Cannabis, which conducted a survey in Denver, Colorado, and into parts of Wyoming and Nebraska.
The findings of 1258 marijuana consumers in the survey revealed that 47.2% purchased cannabis to help them get to sleep.
And while use of cannabis as a sleep aid is primary, pain relief is secondary with an equal amount – 47.2% – indicating they consumed cannabis for pain relief.
Cannabis-oriented websites Leafly and HelloMD list top strains for insomnia, while HelloMD suggests using an edible form because ingesting cannabis metabolizes more slowly, and is longer-lasting. They also suggest using a “vape” pen (vaporizer) as a more effective method of delivery and to fall asleep more quickly.
Common complaints associated with prescription and OTC (Over The Counter, or non-prescription) sleep aids like Ambien® and Benadryl® include morning grogginess, which cannabis does not cause. Another problem of prescription sleeping pills like Lunesta® (eszopiclone) and Ambien® (zolpidem) includes well-known problems of “sleep walking,” and risk of dependency or addiction. Marijuana has no such problem.
Only 28.5% of the survey respondents said they used marijuana to get “high,” while 32.8% said they use marijuana for creative purposes, such as expanding their perception and thought processes instead of partying.
Other common misperceptions of cannabis consumers are that they’re impoverished or financially insolvent. Survey respondents indicated that 50% of them are financial optimists who believe they’ll be better off financially six months from now, while 42% had a 401K and IRA. Those who have traded stocks were 18%, and over 19% of respondents have over $100,000 in liquid assets. The survey also found that respondents are typically two-income families with full-time jobs. And over half of the Denver metro area survey respondents reported household incomes of $50,000 or more.
The next highest group was 45.7%, who indicated cannabis helped relieve depression or anxiety.
Nationally, attitudes toward cannabis are rapidly converging, and there are very little differences between those who vote for Democrats or Republican. A survey conducted in Portland, OR, and Birmingham, AL found very little difference in opinion about cannabis, and a clear majority (73.8% and 60.2%, respectively) in both metro ares want laws changed to approve legalization.
Political ideologies toward cannabis differed very little among respondents, who favored some form of marijuana legalization, and a clear majority (59.9% and 55.3%, respectively) of those who identified as politically “conservative” in both cities favored legalization.
Those who identified as practicing some form of religion, faith, or spirituality in both cities also favored some form of legalization.
In fact, “the more religious respondents in both markets (regular attenders) also approve of legalization in one form or another. In addition, the approval numbers among more religious adults are very similar in both of the Greater Metropolitan Areas.”
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