Marijuana And The Munchies

Spotted an interesting article that attempted to correlate the sales of munchies and states in which marijuana is legal.

There are currently eleven states and the District of Columbia wherein recreational marijuana is legal. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have approved medical marijuana.

Point of note — marijuana is still illegal from the perspective of the Federal government that continues to classify marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

This despite continued efforts for the last 47 years to have it reclassified. Schedule I drugs are those that have “no currently accepted medical use.” That is a subject for another day, y’all.

For those of y’all who have never seen a marijuana cigarette, this is what we are talking about. These ones appear to have filters. Who knew?

Munchies, Big Red Car?

Urban lore suggests that the smoking of marijuana triggers what is called the Frito Lay Syndrome — the desire to consume salty and sweet snacks, called munchies. [Pal tells me to be careful that “munchies” can be both the actual condition itself as well as a descriptor for the snacks. I do not intend to take any linguistic liberties. Bear with me.]

It seems logical that if there is an increase in the frequency of marijuana consumption, then there might be a discernible increase in the consumption of salty and sweet snacks in those same states.

Make sense?

As it turned out there was a study done by the Nielsen Company that suggests the reality of just that correlation. The following chart shows the results.

As you can see in those states with legal recreational marijuana, the compound annual growth rate of sales (CAGR) for SWEET SNACKS is more than fifty percent higher than in states in which marijuana is not legal.

The total “snack growth” including all types of snacks is twenty percent higher in legal v illegal marijuana states.

Does this surprise you in any way?

Pro tip: go with the baked chips because they have 65% less fat than the originals.

But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car and I live in Texas the home of Frito Lay — Plano, Texas.