CBD Market Trends To Expect In 2020
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With the 2019 holiday season also marking the start of a new decade, it’s very much the time to start looking at the upcoming trends in adult use cannabis market.
Cannabidiol or more commonly known as CBD, contrary to some other contemporary ‘miraculous elixirs’, is no snake oil. Scientists have already proven beyond doubt that CBD extracts help with certain ailments, such as joint pain, inflammation, epilepsy and more.
Here are our predictions on which CBD products will lead the market:
Better Standardization
Just like with any highly successful new product, CBD products have been plagued with mislabeling and quality issues. The reason may be that with all the new products displayed on the shelves, efficient quality control was simply impossible. So despite all the health benefits that CBD products may hold, such dirty tricks may blemish the reputation of one of the most promising commodities to enter the market in the last decade.
However, things are slowly looking up. As CBD’s customer base grows so will the list of regulations. Companies are now using Blockchain technology to help them and their customers trace the product from the organic farmer to the retail shelves.
There Will Be A More Diverse Range Of Customers
The mainstream acceptance of CBD infused skincare, food and beverages timed with the oldest Millennials turning 39 (youngest will be turning 24) in 2020 will manifest in a range of customers in very diverse life stages. While the industry has long predicted that Baby Boomers make up a majority of the medical marijuana industry, Gen X and Millennials will dominate the adult-use market.
More Knowledgeable Customers
It’s not just THC and CBD that produce the effects of cannabis, and scientists are becoming aware of the benefits that other cannabinoid compounds in the plant have, such as CBC, CBG, THCV, and CBN. In addition, cannabis contains terpenes, and these substances have a significant impacts on the psychoactive effects of different strains.
Cannabis customers are becoming more aware of the effects and benefits of terpenes as well. Breeders are likely to begin creating strains that are bred to have high levels of specific terpenes and beneficial cannabinoids other than THC and CBD. Know the difference:
CBN
This compound is produced as cannabis ages, and it is typically found in low concentrations of under 1 percent in fresh marijuana. It’s only slightly psychoactive, but it does have strong anti-anxiety and sedative properties.
CBG
This is the compound that THC and CBD originate from, and it has very wide-ranging health benefits. However, it forms into either THC or CBD when it is exposed to sunlight.
THCV
THCV can be quite psychoactive in high enough dosages, but it’s present in fairly low concentrations most of the time. Furthermore, the effects of THCV are quite different from those of delta-9-THC. It tends to produce a stimulating, euphoric, and intense but short-lived high. In addition, it is an appetite suppressant rather than causing the “munchies” like THC does. As awareness of this compound increases, there’s likely to be more strains that are bred to contain high levels of this compound, and THCV supplements may be created.
CBC
CBC is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, and it has a wide range of potential health benefits and medical uses. Unlike some of the compounds in this list, it’s present in significant quantities in the plant, and this makes it easier to create CBC supplements.
THCA
While THCA does not have psychoactive effects unless heat converts it into THC, scientists are now learning that it does have health benefits of its own. Unlike the other compounds listed here, it is not possible to create a sample of THCA that’s pure, and there’s always a certain amount of THC that’s mixed into a sample of THCA. There’s likely to be more attention paid to this compound in the future.
Limonene
Unlike most other terpenes, limonene actually has effects on the cannabis receptors! While this compound is found in cannabis, it is also found in other plants, and it’s thought to have health benefits. As a result, it’s likely that there will be strains bred to produce more of this terpene.
Other Terpenes
In addition to limonene, there are a variety of other terpenes that are thought to have significant health benefits, and customers are becoming increasingly aware of these compounds. As a result, marijuana breeders are likely to create strains that contain larger than typical amounts of these compounds. Some examples of these terpenes are pinene, myrcene,
Delta-8-THC
This form of THC is a bit different than delta-9-THC, which is the most powerful version of it. It does produce psychoactive effects that are very similar to THC, but it’s weaker per milligram of the compound. However, it’s only found in small amounts within the plant.
CBD Skincare Will Only Get Bigger
The boom in sales of CBD products is testament to the increasing crossover between the beauty and wellness industries, and when it comes to CBD skincare specifically, both high-street and premium brands are utilising the ingredient in their droves.
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