From Smokables to Edibles: The new trend in the cannabis industry
There are now numerous ways to ingest cannabis. [image source: Kabalo - Unsplash]"
The variety of cannabis products on the market gives users more ingestion methods to choose from other than simply smoking.
by J. Frank Sigerson
August 21, 2018 at 10:04 AM August 21, 2018 at 10:04 AM
People have always thought of bongs, joints, smoking, and the euphoric feeling produced by it when hearing the word Marijuana. A lot has changed since the cannabis industry has expanded the use of cannabis into the areas of health and wellness. The product now comes in various dosages and formulations. The abundance and variety of cannabis products is causing a major shift from smokables to alternatives, like edibles, that could benefit the industry in the long run.
A report from USA Today reveals that marijuana smokables are seeing a sharp decline in sales, whereas other forms of cannabis are becoming increasingly popular.
There are a lot of reasons for the newfound popularity of alternative cannabis products such as oils, capsules and other edibles, one of which is the expanding list of marijuana cultivators.
The competition between marijuana growers is causing flower prices to weaken. Citing New Frontier Data, USA Today reports that a gram of flower marijuana in Oregon was worth $5.77 in February. In total, the price dropped by 41 percent in just 15 months. With prices being no longer as profitable, growers produce less, which leads to lower supplies.
Quality CBD products on the market
Another reason for the shift in the industry is the abundance of high-quality products available through online and brick-and-mortar retailers.
Brownies were the popular edible variant of marijuana years ago, but now, there are gummies, oils and even chocolates that are available.
These products are also preferred as they are more discreet. Although cannabis is more accepted today than it was a couple of years ago, smoking marijuana in public is still frowned upon because of the secondhand smoke.
Oils, capsules, and edibles can be taken without others noticing it. These items are also easier to carry and faster to consume.
Aside from the privacy it offers, directly consuming marijuana also allows people to avoid the side effects caused by smoking. Additionally, consuming cannabis will also yield faster and longer effects as the body's metabolism allows the necessary compounds to be consumed faster, according to The Daily Beast.
The new trend of shifting from smoking to other forms of marijuana consumption is helping a few companies gain more ground in the cannabis industry. For instance, Peter Barsoom's 1906 revamps the way people consume cannabis by infusing compounds of the plant with a line of luxury chocolates. A piece from the 1906's chocolate box contains the other prominent cannabis compounds tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The cannabis-infused chocolates begin to take effect 15 to 20 minutes after consumption.
Speaking to Civilized, Barsoom calls their production process as lipid microencapsulation, a technique commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. This method "binds up the THC in the CBD molecules with another fat.
In this case, we use a medium chain fatty acid, and it works like a bullet train, with THC and the CBD as passengers, gets into your stomach," he explains.
What makes 1906 even more unique is that each chocolate comes with varying increments of THC and CBD. The Go variety provides an energy boost for the body whereas Pause offers relaxation. Other variants include High Love which serves as an aphrodisiac and Midnight which helps the user sleep.
Barsoom's company blends effective production techniques with unique edible offerings. This is partly what makes the 1906 such a success. It's a trend among the bigger brands in the cannabis industry like PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:POTN).
One impressive run on the market with CBD products
Like 1906, POTN uses an effective method when it comes to the production of CBD oils. Instead of lipid microencapsulation, POTN makes use of supercritical CO2 extraction. It also employs medical professionals, as well as cultivators to help improve its chain of operation. Its products are sold through Diamond CBD, Inc, one of the leaders in the distribution of CBD in the U.S.
Aside from vape liquids, the distributor also sells an array of edible gummies, pharmaceutically formulated-capsules and flavored oils. One of its popular expansions is Chong's Choice line of products made in partnership with the premiere marijuana icon, Tommy Chong. The selection includes CBD-infused Gummy Bears and Watermelon Slices, a new CBD oil, and a vape additive.
The distributor continues to impress people with what it offers. When it attended the jam-packed ASD Market Week earlier this month, it was able to rake in over 400 new orders for its products, which signifies the company's capacity to stand out among tough competition.
It's hard to blame cannabis users for shifting toward these alternatives as they open up new possibilities. Cannabis variants like CBD are already healthy on its own but without being forced to smoke the product, it is made even better.
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J. Frank Sigerson
I am a business and financial journalist as well as a culture writer focused on covering the following sectors: crypto, crowdfunding, technology, and marketing.
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