Anticipating the Cannabis Holiday Season

Taking a page from the e-commerce giant Alibaba, which runs massive sales annually on November 11 (or 11.11) for the unofficial Chinese shopping holiday Singles’ Day, the rewards app Shopkick recently announced a new “10.10 Shopping Festival”. Consumers buying from direct-to-consumer and retail brands through the Shopkick app collect rewards points in the form of…

Disillusioned Consumers and Niche Opportunities

Early in the CBD boom, the cannabinoid could be found in anything. Store-bought infused guacamole might have been the most egregious example of stretching the potential of CBD until it breaks. That said, the proliferation of DIY guacamole recipes made with CBD oil suggests there is something at work. But buying a plastic tub of…

Will There Be a Broader Impact of Decriminalization?

WHEN DENVER VOTERS APPROVED INITIATIVE 301 EARLIER THIS MONTH, THEY COULDN’T HAVE KNOWN THAT THEIR VOTES MAY HAVE IMPACTED THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS LEGALIZATION. For those who are unfamiliar, Initiative 301 essentially decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms. While it does not make legal these mushrooms, it does make them a low priority for law enforcement and prohibit…

The Art and Science of CBD Market Sizing

Consumer products companies specializing in hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) have been responding to unabated consumer demand by expanding distribution, seeking new mainstream channels to reach consumers. Mainstream stores from Walgreens to DSW Shoes to big-box grocery now stock CBD products, from a few SKUs to an entire store-within-a-store. CBD’s unabated popularity among consumers has generated increased…