According to new research, the Covid-19 online shopping frenzy has extended to cannabis, with a 500% increase in online cannabis sales during the pandemic. That’s right, even the recreational cannabis industry is practising social distancing.
The report, published by cyber intelligence company Sixgill, measured the seller listings and buyer feedback of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA on the dark web, throughout the pandemic. The dark web, which is only accessible using software that tries to hide your identity, hosts several online drug marketplaces. Most notably, Silk Road, which was shut down by the FBI in 2013.
Specifically, the report’s data was recorded between December 23rd, 2019 and April 27th, 2020. For reference, the report classifies the seller listings as ‘supply’ and the buyer feedback as ‘demand’.
When investigating the effect Covid-19 had on supply, it was found that the supply of cannabis online increased by 555%. That’s an average of 5,425 new postings every day in April. Interestingly, the supply for MDMA increased less, with just a 224% increase. However, cocaine was by far the most advertised drug, with a 1000% increase in posts between December and April.
However, if you thought buying drugs would be expensive during the pandemic, you’d be wrong. The report investigates the rise in bargains and discounts, finding that they increased exponentially. In other words, cannabis sellers were so desperate to keep selling cannabis that they were putting on ‘coronavirus sales’ to keep the customers coming in.
It wasn’t just drug dealers who were driven online by the pandemic. Buyers were also online and looking to shop. When discussing the findings, the report has this to say:
Like all consumers, dark web shoppers may have been driven to online shopping due to fear of physical contact.
While we can’t measure all transactions from drug sales, we can measure product feedback. This product feedback shows an increase of 495% in the demand for drugs between December 2019 and April 2020. According to Sixgill, over 311,157 transactions could be confirmed in March, increasing heavily from just 97,616 confirmed transactions in December.
However, while the demand for cannabis increased online, the demand for stolen credit cards and account details did not. Why? Addressing this, the report suggests that the demand for cannabis only increased because smokers who regularly buy it couldn’t do so in person.
While we can’t know the true reason each person bought drugs online, the fact that the increase in online drug sales coincides with the lockdown paints a clear picture.
Interestingly, many of these customers may not be regular cannabis smokers, but instead, patients unable to fulfil their medical cannabis prescriptions. In Australia alone, 69.7% of medical cannabis users are treating pain-related illnesses, which are often long-term. Although Australian’s can still visit the pharmacy during the lockdown, a huge number of people are preferring to shop online – as it allows them to socially distance themselves.
If you want to read more about Australia’s cannabis industry, you can do so here.