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Catching the Growth of the Cannabis Industry

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The following content is sponsored by eToro

Cannabis future infographic

Catching the Growth of the Cannabis Industry

The global stance on cannabis is changing rapidly.

With a wave of medical and recreational legalization occurring, there are now 70 countries with some form of legalization. As billions of investment dollars pour in, the cannabis industry finds itself entering a brand new chapter.

This infographic from eToro provides key information for investors on how the global cannabis market is making significant strides forward.

The World’s Legal Cannabis Markets

In just a few short years since legalization momentum kicked off, societal views on cannabis have changed tremendously. Examples of this include:

  • Dispensaries being deemed essential businesses during the pandemic.
  • Uber announcing its intention to incorporate cannabis deliveries.
  • Malta becoming the first country to legalize cannabis in Europe for recreational use.

This shifting dynamic is part of why the global cannabis industry now generates over $20 billion in legal recreational sales on an annual basis.

The title for the world’s largest cannabis market belongs to the U.S.—generating more than $16 billion in sales in 2020. However, their regulatory landscape is also one of the trickiest to navigate, as federal legalization has yet to occur despite over 30 states having legalized cannabis in some form.

While this unique situation leaves a lot of potential money off the table, it also provides lots of potential upside for the industry should legalization trends persist. In 2022, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Delaware are considered likely to legalize, which would take the small (Read more...)

Defining the New Cannabis Consumer

by Sponsored Content

Every Cannabis Product In One Graphic Part 1 of 5
Cannabis and alcohol a side by side comparison Part 2 of 5
The new cannabis consumer Part 3 of 5
Exploring the untapped potential of CBD 4 of 5
5 signs of matuurity from the cannabis industry Part 5 of 5

The following content is sponsored by Tenacious Labs

cannabis consumer infographic

Defining The New Cannabis Consumer

The cannabis industry is transforming, and so too are its consumers.

As they edge further into the mainstream, cannabis companies will need to fight for the consumer’s dollar—not just against other cannabis brands, but also against a number of other industries in the discretionary spending sphere.

This graphic from Tenacious Labs looks at key data that will help us define the new cannabis consumer and explores how cannabis industry sales compare to adjacent discretionary spending industries.

Competing for the Cannabis Consumer Dollar

Roughly 12% of Americans consume cannabis which translates roughly into $60 billion in sales. While these figures are mostly made up of the illicit market, it’s forecasted that the legal industry’s footprint will come to represent the majority of the market.

Let’s take a look at how some of the most popular discretionary spending industries compare to cannabis.

IndustryU.S. Industry Sales 2020/2021 ($B)
Cigarettes$77.0B
Recreational Cannabis including Illicit$60.0B
Craft Beer$27.8B
Recreational and Medical Cannabis$20.0B
National Football League$12.0B
Movie Theatre Tickets$12.0B
Frozen Pizza$4.4B
Hard Seltzer$4.1B
Paid Music Streaming Services$2.5B
Tequila$2.3B

The recreational and medical cannabis industry sits just below the craft beer space, which generates $27 billion a year.

However, with cannabis consumption rates trending upwards and alcohol consumption falling, it’s likely the cannabis industry will experience a larger share within the overall consumer discretionary spending sector over time.

The New Cannabis Consumer’s Changing Preferences

(Read more...)

A Guide to Cannabis in the U.S.

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The History of Cannabis Prohibition in the U.S. Part 1 of 5
A Bird’s Eye View of the Largest Cannabis Markets Part 2 of 5
A Guide to Cannabis in the US Part 3 of 5
The Evolution of Cannabis Markets 4 of 5
Legal Vs Illegal: An Overview of the Cannabis Market Part 5 of 5

The following content is sponsored by Tenacious Labs.

A Guide to Cannabis in the U.S.

Providing an overview of the status of cannabis in the U.S. is challenging at best. On the federal level, things are fairly straight forward. Cannabis is federally illegal and has been for 88 years and counting. Getting down to the state level, however, changes things.

This map from Tenacious Labs breaks down the legal status of cannabis across every U.S. state, and details how lenient each one is when it comes to criminalization.

No Cannabis Allowed

Cannabis—the plant from which marijuana is made—is still considered a dangerous and criminal substance in many U.S. states. In fact, there are six states where cannabis is illegal, of which five are yet to decriminalize. This means an individual can be criminally prosecuted for possessing certain amounts.

StateLegal StatusDecriminalized?
WyomingIllegalNo
WisconsinIllegalNo
KentuckyIllegalNo
KansasIllegalNo
IdahoIllegalNo
NebraskaIllegalYes

Most states began decriminalizing marijuana decades ago, but not all have chosen to partake in this trend. Prosecutors in Alabama for example are able to charge someone with a felony offense for possessing marijuana.

In most states where cannabis is illegal, it is not decriminalized. In particular, only one illegal state has decriminalized the substance—Nebraska.

Medical Use Only

In some U.S. states, approved medical usage of cannabis could be a precursor towards full legalization. Just as it was for states like California and Oregon. However, some states that allow medical (Read more...)

Cannabis and Alcohol: An Industry Comparison

by Sponsored Content

Every Cannabis Product In One Graphic Part 1 of 5
Cannabis and alcohol a side by side comparison Part 2 of 5
5 signs of maturity from the cannabis industry Part 3 of 5
Exploring the untapped potential of CBD 4 of 5
The new cannabis consumer Part 5 of 5

The following content is sponsored by Tenacious Labs.

Cannabis and Alcohol: An Industry Comparison

As cannabis continues to build legalization momentum in the U.S., it also finds itself entering a new chapter, and one that steps away from its prohibition past.

The industry is now on a path similar to that of the alcohol industry during the 20th century. So what can we learn by comparing the two industries?

This infographic from Tenacious Labs looks at similarities and differences between alcohol and cannabis in relation to market maturity, legality, and cultural acceptance. It’s the second in a series that explores the future of the cannabis industry. Let’s dive in.

Sizing up the Market

We are entering what looks like the beginning of the end for cannabis prohibition in the U.S. which dates all the way back to 1937.

During this time, cannabis has faced extreme hurdles that have hampered its ability to flourish. But despite this bumpy past, the future of cannabis looks bright. In 2020, combined legal and illicit cannabis sales in the U.S. grew to be worth a combined $85 billion.

While this only represents 33% of total U.S. alcohol sales, consumption habits are changing quickly. For instance, the share of college students who drink daily fell from 6.5% in 1980 to 2.2% in 2017, and Americans overall are drinking far less these days compared to the 1980s.

On the other hand, cannabis holds a larger and growing influence amongst Americans old and young. In fact, the (Read more...)

Every Cannabis Product In One Graphic

by Sponsored Content

Every Cannabis Product In One Graphic Part 1 of 5
Cannabis and alcohol a side by side comparison Part 2 of 5
5 signs of maturity from the cannabis industry Part 3 of 5
Exploring the untapped potential of CBD 4 of 5
The new cannabis consumer Part 5 of 5

The following content is sponsored by Tenacious Labs.

Every Cannabis Product In One Graphic

There are few markets experiencing growth quite like cannabis, which in 2020 had an additional 7,000 products hit dispensary shelves compared to the year prior. However, for novice cannabis consumers and investors, the different products and their uses can be overwhelming.

This sponsored graphic by Tenacious Labs provides an overview of cannabis products, and is part of a multi-part series that covers different factors affecting the future of cannabis.

Let’s break down cannabis products on the market today.

1. Flower

First, is cannabis flower, which is the ingestible part of the cannabis plant and is the most popular way to consume. It is cultivated, harvested, dried, and cured, as part of the preparation process before making its way to the end consumer. Due to its popularity, it also represents the largest component of the U.S. legal market.

In 2021, some $10.9 billion in dried herb or “buds” were purchased. In addition, pre-rolls generated $2.2 billion, which are pre-rolled products prepared by dispensaries. The psychoactive effects from consuming flower are felt almost instantly, which remains a key appeal.

2. Cartridges, Concentrates, and Extracts

Cannabis concentrates are a growing category which have taken the market by storm in recent years. They come in various forms including raw concentrates, cartridges, and extracts. Preparing them involves removing impurities form the plant, leaving only the desired compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenes.

This highly concentrated form of cannabis results in (Read more...)

The History of Cannabis Prohibition in the U.S.

by Sponsored Content

The following content is sponsored by Tenacious Labs.

cannabis

The History of Cannabis Prohibition in the U.S.

The legal status of cannabis in the U.S. isn’t always clear. At the federal level, it is an illegal Schedule I drug. However, individual states have the ability to determine their own laws around cannabis sales and usage.

But cannabis was not always illegal at the top level. It was only in the last 100 years that cannabis faced a prohibition similar to the alcohol prohibition of the early 1920s.

In this infographic from Tenacious Labs, we explore the fascinating history of cannabis prohibition in the U.S. dating all the way back to the 1900s.

The Early History of Cannabis Legality

The earliest laws surrounding the cannabis plant in the U.S. were drafted before the country was even founded. In 1619, a law was passed in the colony of Virginia which required every single farm to grow cannabis and produce hemp, an important commodity at the time.

Over time, marijuana from the cannabis plant started to be used for medicinal purposes. Early recreational use was first introduced by Mexican immigrants in the early 1900s.

Flash forward to the 1930s, when the country was struggling financially during the Great Depression. To encourage economic growth, alcohol prohibition was lifted, and those who had supported teetotalling began to target marijuana instead. At the time, cannabis was consumed largely in black and Mexican communities, and racist attitudes began to shape an association between crime, lewd behavior, immorality, (Read more...)