Cannabis and Dating. Is it a Deal Breaker?
If you were to ask me whether or not cannabis is a deal breaker when it comes to dating, I would answer both yes, and no. Yes, if both people enjoy a cannabis lifestyle and no if one of the partners is not a fan. I suppose there is a gray area of maybe, but maybe never turns into anything great. When it comes to cannabis and dating there is no hard, fast answer. Just like anything else related to dating, if both partners are not on the same page or can’t avoid judging each other’s chosen lifestyle then the relationship ends. The cannabis factor is just one of many issues in those cases.
I can’t speak for women, but I am going to stereotype men a bit here. Sorry guys, but I think most of us use weed as a form of entertainment enhancer. We are not typically looking for a healing, transcendental experience when we light up that joint before going for a mountain bike ride, or playing a game of pick up basketball. We just want to get into the zone and sometimes weed helps us get there. Other times it does the opposite. Men also typically smoke up before a movie, a trip to the amusement park or before turning on the Playstation. Video games are an immersive riot when you are stoned. Are those activities conducive to dating? Sure, if both parties enjoy the cannabis lifestyle and enjoy those same activities. Those weed-enhanced activities could enhance the bond.
Fortunately, we have data at our fingertips. In 2020, eHarmony published the results of a study proving that 58% of Americans would date someone who uses cannabis. That is a much higher number than I expected! The study also revealed that 60% of those surveyed would be disappointed if their date showed up stoned on a first date. Right. Who would do that? That is an awful way to get to know someone, so I would definitely fall into the category of the disappointed. If we were really grooving on a mental level and I trusted that person enough, I might do it with them, but it also might screw up the dinner or after-dinner conversation.
Where cannabis and dating run into that proverbial brick wall is when someone who uses recreationally tries to date someone who is a functioning drug addict, and using because they have to, instead of want to. At that point, dating becomes difficult, at best. If cannabis is all that person wants to do then you are immediately out of the loop emotionally. It is best to either move on, or help that person curtail their use of cannabis, provided they want help. Perhaps you can convince them that the good stuff is, in fact, better when used less frequently?
Dating in 2023 is complicated, mostly because dating has gone online, for most. One thing is certain though, based on the data provided by eHarmony cannabis is not the deal breaker that some would assume, including me, especially if the two parties are transparent with each other and see eye-to-eye on the type of lifestyle they want to live together. If someone doesn’t click on your online dating profile because you listed cannabis as an interest, then you don’t want to date that person anyway. If you are a cannabis enthusiast and don’t disclose this in your online dating profile, you are starting off on the wrong foot. Don’t take it from me though, I would rather meet and get to know that special someone offline, in the real world where catfishing and ghosting don’t exist as actual activities.
