About one in three Americans say marijuana is part of their holiday “pregame” routine, according to a new national survey that highlights how substance use intersects with seasonal stress, family dynamics and long-standing traditions.
The poll, conducted by the Freeman Recovery Center, examined how people cope during the holidays—a period often marked by packed family gatherings, social obligations and financial pressure tied to gift giving and travel. The findings suggest that cannabis has become a common tool for decompressing, particularly among younger adults.
“Because holiday celebrations are so ingrained in American culture, it can be difficult to isolate what drives changes in substance use during this time of year,” the center said in a statement. “We wanted to better understand the ‘why’ behind these behaviors.”
Surveying more than 1,000 respondents, researchers found that roughly half of Americans said they “pre-game” before attending holiday family events. Alcohol remains the most prevalent choice, cited by 51 percent of respondents. Cannabis, however, ranked second at 31 percent overall—and was especially common among younger generations, with 43 percent of Gen Z and millennials reporting marijuana use before family gatherings. Another 12 percent said they turned to psychedelics.
Substance use was even more pronounced among people with a history of substance use issues. Within that group, 68 percent reported drinking alcohol ahead of holiday events, 50 percent used cannabis and 26 percent said they used psychedelics.
The survey also explored how financial stress factors into these behaviors. While money pressures are widely felt during the holidays, not all age groups reported turning to substances to cope. Forty-two percent of Gen X respondents and 68 percent of baby boomers said they did not use drugs or alcohol to manage holiday financial anxiety. Millennials, by contrast, reported the highest levels of self-medication, with 54 percent using alcohol and 45 percent using cannabis when feeling financially strained.
Cannabis use during the holidays aligns with broader national trends. A 2023 Pew Research Center poll found that more than half of U.S. adults have used marijuana at some point, and nearly one in four reported consuming it in the past year.
The normalization of cannabis has also fueled lighter-hearted traditions, such as the so-called “cousin walk”—a discreet pre-dinner cannabis break that typically involves younger relatives slipping away during Thanksgiving gatherings. Once a subcultural ritual, it has increasingly entered the mainstream, reflecting shifting attitudes toward marijuana during even the most traditional family holidays.
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