40% of Cannabis Users Bought Something They Regretted While High

Shopping decisions made while high do not always look as appealing the next day.

A new CardRates.com study reveals that 40% of cannabis users made a purchase they later regretted while under the influence, revealing how common purchase regret can be among cannabis users. Yet, for many, these purchases aren’t just minor, inexpensive mistakes; they carry real financial implications. 

“Making financial decisions when your judgment is impaired is never recommended,” says Erica Sandberg, consumer finance expert at CardRates.com. “It can easily turn into expensive mistakes. Spending and borrowing money should only be done when you are sober and fully understand the consequences.”

The findings reveal that cannabis-related buyer’s remorse can be both recurring and costly, particularly among younger users. 

For some cannabis users, impulse purchases aren’t just a one-time mistake; they’re a repeated occurrence. In fact, half of cannabis users with purchase regrets said they made at least four purchases they later regretted in the past year alone.

When asked how many times they made a purchase they regretted in the past year, here is how respondents answered:

• 10% made one regretted purchase.
• 39% made two to three.
• 25% made four to six.
• 25% made seven or more.

These results show that purchases made while under the influence of cannabis have become a norm for many users. The results show that purchase regret was frequently recurring rather than isolated.

As our results show, impulse buys can add up quickly for some users. And that’s not just in frequency, but also in cost.  

Our data reveals that 50% of users spent more than $250 on purchases they regretted, with some respondents spending even larger sums:

• 18% spent less than $100.
• 32% spent $100–$250.
• 22% spent $251–$500.
• 16% spent $501–$1,000.
• 12% spent more than $1,000.

Combined, 28% spent more than $500, pointing to some serious buyer’s remorse.  

The amounts represent combined spending across the past year, not the cost of a single purchase. Half estimated spending more than $250 in total, while 28% put the amount above $500, and 12% above $1,000. 

Our findings show that many users engage in repeated impulse buying that can create a larger financial burden for them down the line.

Sandberg suggests, “Learn from other people who have used cannabis and then went shopping. Our study found that many ended up regretting those purchases, and this regret worsened when the purchases became habitual. A singular bad decision probably won’t rock your finances, but multiple certainly can.”

We also found generational differences among cannabis users. Younger users were more likely than older users to report at least one purchase they regretted making.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Gen Z users and 49% of millennials reported purchase regrets while high in the past year. In contrast, only 25% of Gen X and 16% of boomers said the same. 

Among Gen Z cannabis users, 34% made at least four purchases they later regretted, compared with 27% of millennials, 8% of Gen X, and 7% of baby boomers. 

The survey did not examine why purchase regret declined with age. Differences in shopping behavior, cannabis-use frequency, or other factors may play a role, but further research would be needed. 

Sandberg continues, “It was particularly alarming to find out that a majority of younger cannabis users had experienced purchase regrets. Substance use and shopping or money management just do not go together.”

“If you’re going to use cannabis, I strongly suggest putting the credit cards down and closing out the shopping apps. When you’re sober, you can go back and make the purchases you really want and that are within your means.”  

Cannabis-related purchase regret is not always limited to one late-night order or unnecessary impulse buy. For many users, regretful purchases can often add up, leading to major financial consequences in the long run, especially among younger users.  

For any media inquiries, please contact catherine@cardrates.com. 

CardRates.com surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults via an online panel in 2026 to examine consumer financial behaviors and attitudes. This study focuses on respondents’ experiences with purchases made while under the influence of cannabis.

Results are based on raw, unweighted responses. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. The margin of error for the full sample is approximately ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. 

The approximate margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points for the full sample, ±4.8 points among cannabis users, and ±7.6 points among those who reported regretted purchases. Generation-level estimates have larger margins of error that vary by subgroup.