Election stress drives marijuana sales

Election stress this week has brought Democrats and Republicans together in one strange way.

Sales of marijuana products are exploding.

“In the past couple days sales are up more than 50 percent,’’ said Jerry Millen, owner of the Greenhouse of Walled Lake.

A random check of liquor stores in Oakland County didn’t reveal a boom in business due to the election, although sales were up a bit at the Mapleview Party Store in West Bloomfield.

A glass of wine or any adult beverage could take the edge off while waiting for election results.

Add to that, concerns about the rise in coronavirus cases and worries about the economy. It’s been one heck of a 2020.

Millen said he wasn’t prepared for the boom in sales due to the election.

“Totally surprised, totally. After (the start of) COVID I was like, “Whew.’ When we went to curbside we were doing 1,200 cars a day. That was nuts,’’ Millen said. “Now the election is here, It’s great for business but I hate to see people stressed out.’’

Party affiliation does not seem to be a factor for customers at the marijuana dispensary.

Millen said he had two women customers in their 60s who were first-timers on Wednesday.

He sold them chocolate bars and a mist that is sprayed under the tongue.

“It’s been chaos. The day before the election I saw it start up-ticking. Election day we cranked it out. ( Wednesday) we were jamming again,’’ Millen said.

With stress levels perhaps higher than at any time in 2020, it’s not uncommon to look for a way to take the edge off.

“This is a safer way, it’s way safer than alcohol and way safer than Xanax or any drugs. I mean it’s a plant for God’s sake,’’ Millen said. “It’s all tested to make sure it’s all clean — no pesticides or heavy metals. It’s state tested and it’s dosed properly.’’

Of course there’s another possible cure for election stress.

“I had to stop watching television, I can’t take it anymore. This makes no sense what’s going on,’’ Millen said. “We don’t know who’s lying, who’s not lying. What’s right, what’s wrong. We’re not going to know for another month what’s happening.’’