Holiday Survival: 1 in 3 Americans are high for the holidays
While the Cousin Walk is supposedly a “secret” tradition, recent survey reveals that most parents aren’t actually fooled. The most common giveaway isn’t red eyes—it’s the sudden, aggressive use of hand sanitizer and the fact that the cousins return smelling like a “1994 Dave Matthews Band concert” only to become deeply, spiritually fascinated by the texture of the mashed potatoes.
Lighting up before meeting up with family for Christmas? The habit has taken hold over the years, obviously. While “pregaming” family dinner once meant a discreet glass of wine in the kitchen, a growing nationwide shift is seeing Americans trade the cocktail shaker for the pre-roll. What was once a quiet coping mechanism has increasingly become a normalized, if still semi-private, part of navigating the emotional dynamics of the holidays.
According to a new survey released on December 22, 2025, by the Freeman Recovery Center, approximately 31% of U.S. adults—or nearly 1 in 3 persons—admitted to using cannabis to “pre-game” before attending holiday family gatherings. For younger generations, the numbers are even higher: 43% of Gen Z and Millennials reported using marijuana to navigate the emotional and financial stressors of the season.
The rise of the “cousin walk” and surviving Christmas
The “Cousin Walk”—the long-standing tradition of younger family members “going for a walk” before dinner to share a joint—looks like it’s no longer a niche subculture, but rather a mainstream phenomenon.
The Freeman Recovery Center poll highlights that while alcohol remains the top choice for holiday coping (at 51%), cannabis has solidified its spot as the second most popular substance. This shift is particularly visible in legal states like New York, Colorado, and California, where dispensaries reported record-breaking “Green Wednesday” sales (the day before Thanksgiving) that carried through the December holidays.
“For many Americans, the holidays spark seasonal cravings for eggnog, deviled eggs, and cranberry sauce. For others, the stressors that come with the holidays incite a craving for alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, and other substances,” the center said. “These emotional stressors are present long before anyone takes a drink.”
While 1 in 3 Americans seems to favor cannabis for the season, the same December 2025 Freeman Recovery survey found that a bold 12% of respondents admitted to using psychedelics before their big family holiday dinner. That gives a whole new meaning to “seeing your relatives in a new light” during the main course.
The “vase bong” trend was actually born from a move called the “Hide the Bong Dance.” The founder, Doreen Sullivan, came up with the idea in 2015 after a surprise knock at the door forced her to frantically shove her glass pipe next to a floral vase. And then she had an A-ha! moment.
From Family Feud to the family table
Nothing signals the increasingly “grandma-friendly” normalization of cannabis quite like its steady presence in prime-time pop culture. This December, the industry marked a symbolic milestone as Snoop Dogg—a perennial ambassador of mainstream cannabis—continued his cultural dominance with appearances on major platforms like The Voice, alongside the ongoing syndication of his now-legendary Family Feud moments.
When Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Cannabis brand or cannabis-related trivia pops up on a show as generationally ubiquitous as Family Feud, it quietly chips away at the old “stoner” stigma—especially for older viewers. That kind of cultural softening has, hopefully, made more Americans comfortable acknowledging their own consumption. Or at the very least, a little more relaxed about that “medicinal” vape pen making a discreet appearance around the holiday table.
The “vase bong” aesthetic: 2025’s top gift trend
The way Americans consume cannabis is evolving, too. One of the most talked-about gift trends of the 2025 holiday season wasn’t a hidden plastic pipe, but something far more design-forward: sculptural glass. Leading the charge is the My Bud Vase “Coyōté”, a ceramic, sand-textured piece that passes effortlessly as high-end home décor—until its functional side is revealed.
These so-called “vase bongs” speak directly to a growing demographic of design-conscious consumers, particularly women, who now make up a significant and increasingly influential share of the market. Blending seamlessly into a bookshelf or nightstand as a piece of art, these products embody the modern cannabis ethos: discreet, intentional, and unmistakably distinct.
Consuming responsibly during the festivities
While the data shows more people are using cannabis to manage holiday stress, experts remind consumers to prioritize safety.
- Know Your Dose: Edibles can take up to two hours to kick in. To avoid an “over-indulgence” disaster in front of the in-laws, start low (2.5mg to 5mg).
- Check the Label: Make sure your products come from licensed dispensaries to guarantee purity and legal compliance.
- Safe Travels: Never drive under the influence. With increased holiday patrols, utilize ride-shares to ensure your “holiday spirit” doesn’t lead to a legal headache.
Happy holidays!
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Stephen Andrews
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