In April, as the COVID-19 pandemic was still settling in, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction released a report reminding cannabis consumers that smoking could, potentially, worsen the impacts of the virus. 

This was bad news for most Canadians as smoking, according to the National Cannabis Survey, is far and away the most common method of consumption nationwide. The 2019 summary states that 84 per cent of respondents who consumed cannabis in the previous 12 months for non-medical purposes did so by smoking it.

But with the introduction of edibles and beverages and the rise of portable vaporizers, are the habits of the past starting to change?

While the majority of Canadians still consume their recreational cannabis by smoking it, the 2019 national survey revealed there was a five point drop from 2018, when 89 per cent of respondents said smoking was their preferred method. 

The 2019 report also showed that more cannabis-friendly Canadians were consuming edibles, about 46 per cent, while 15 per cent of respondents, in both 2018 and 2019, reported that they preferred using a vaporizer. 

At least one company, though, argues the pandemic is changing that. 

TVAPE, one of the world’s largest vaporizer retailers and distributors, reported that there has been record interest in their wholesale vaporizer accounts since the pandemic began, as shop owners look to stay apace with customer demand. 

With Canadians stockpiling weed in unprecedented numbers, TVAPE surveyed almost 400 of its customers to gauge how consumer habits are changing during the pandemic. Here’s what the data reveals. 

The survey indicates that reduced social interaction during the pandemic could lead to long term changes in how people consume cannabis. / Photo: Artranq / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Photo: Artranq / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Fifty-four per cent of respondents said they are consuming more cannabis since the pandemic began, which is in line with what other surveys have found. In June, the Canadian Red Cross released a report noting that there had been an uptick in both cannabis and alcohol consumption across the country. 

Before the pandemic began, the vast majority of TVAPE survey respondents — 84 per cent — reported they consumed cannabis in the evening. Just three per cent of respondents said they consumed cannabis in the morning and 13 per cent in the afternoon.

During the pandemic, however, that’s changed. Consumption is spread more evenly throughout the day, with nearly eight per cent of respondents consuming in the morning, 28 per cent in the afternoon and 64 per cent in the evenings. 

The way Canadians are consuming is also changing. According to the survey, vaporizer use has increased by almost 30 per cent during the pandemic and fewer people are smoking joints. Other methods — bongs, pipes, edibles and extracts — remain mostly stable.

Interest in vaporizers is also increasing, with 20 per cent of respondents stating they would like to make the switch from smoking to vaping, citing concerns about health. 

The illicit market has also taken a hit, according to the survey, with more people ordering their cannabis online from licensed retailers, a boost that can be at least partly attributed to Ontario having loosened some consumer restrictions, like allowing online ordering and curb-side pickup and, very briefly, delivery. 

The survey also indicates that reduced social interaction during the pandemic could lead to long-term changes in how people consume cannabis, with almost 60 per cent of respondents reporting they are not likely to share their “piece” — a vape, bong, pipe, etc. — with another person in the future. And 50 per cent of respondents said they are unlikely to host group sessions with friends post-pandemic. 

You can view the full survey here.