New Ontario Cannabis Store survey shows that customers are big on high-THC options

More than a third of cannabis customers prefer to roll a joint when they smoke. And no matter how they use marijuana, products with “very strong” THC are the most popular choice.

So say the results of Ontario Cannabis Store’s first customer preferences survey conducted from Mar. 30 to Apr. 10. Results were based on a pop-up invitation triggered for visitors to its website, Daffyd Roderick, director of communications for the OCS, notes in an email to The GrowthOp.

Asked about their top three preferences when they smoked, 39 per cent of participants indicated rolling a joint was the way to go. But smoking a bowl was not far behind at 35 per cent. Smoking a pre-roll and passing on smoking altogether lagged behind at seven per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

Smoking was also the clear choice for those included in the 2019 results of the Canadian Cannabis Survey, which showed 25 per cent of people reported having used cannabis in the past 12 months, up from 22 per cent in the previous cycle. Of that group, 66 per cent noted someone had smoked cannabis inside their home, followed by eating or drinking cannabis (44 per cent), and vaporizing cannabis (32 per cent).

OCS notes preferences are also crystal clear when it comes to how much THC customers prefer. Defined as more than 20 per cent, “very strong” was the top choice, noted by 46 per cent of respondents. This was double the “strong” choice, defined as 17 to 20 per cent THC, chosen by 23 per cent of those polled. Percentages for medium, mild, very mild and little to minimal THC grew progressively smaller, at 15 per cent, five per cent, five per cent and two per cent.

THC also won out when people were asked about their favourite mix of cannabinoids. Almost three in five, or 58 per cent, selected high-THC compared to 18 per cent for balanced, 17 per cent for “depends on the day” and six per cent for high-CBD.

And for those indicating they feel like a change from smoking or vaping, cannabis-infused chocolate was the top choice. In all, 38 per cent of those polled noted this would be their choice, while 18 per cent would take a dropper of oil and 12 per cent would brew a cup of cannabis-infused tea.

Cheri Mara, chief commercial officer for the OCS, recently told The GrowthOp’s Kate Robertson that leading up to Mar. 9, the OCS handled an average of 2,500 to 3,500 online orders per day. But as COVID-19 began to hit hard, resulting in increased protective measures such as physical distancing and staying at home, that number ballooned to 13,000 daily orders in early April.

According to Bloomberg, per new figures from Statistics Canada, cannabis customers country-wide purchased $149.9 million in legal pot in February.

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