Julie Aitcheson
Whether you draw a red heart around February 14th on your calendar, giddily counting the days until Cupid arrives, or draw the blinds and hunker down with Netflix and nachos until the hysteria passes, the cannabis industry is vying to be part of your Valentine’s Day experience. Given the surging interest in the benefits of cannabidiols, more consumers than ever are likely to forego the standard bouquets and boxes of chocolates in favor of cannabis-enhanced treats and personal care products to commemorate the day.
Valentine’s Day Spending
According to recent statistics from the National Research Federation, a prominent retail trade association, Americans are set up for another record spending year to celebrate their loved ones on Valentine’s Day. The projected overall spending average for the holiday is up 21 percent from last year among those expecting to commemorate February 14th with romantic dinners and good old fashioned gifting.
A BDS Analytics report found that in 2019, sales in the recreational cannabis markets of California, Florida, and Oregon were 3.3 percent higher on Valentine’s Day than any other day in February, while Eaze, a technology platform providing direct delivery of medical cannabis from dispensaries, reports a 20 percent spike in orders on Valentine’s Day. These statistics clearly reflect the market boost from those seeking to add cannabis products to the standard Hallmark fare.
For those interested in giving the gift of cannabis (with or without significant THC content) this February, options abound. Weed-infused wines and gourmet chocolates enhanced with CBD and other herbs known for their mood-boosting and aphrodisiacal properties line specialty store shelves, while online retailers lure customers with special Valentine’s Day discounts.
Cannabis Beverage = Love Potion
In addition to billing it as a surefire hangover cure, ALT’s completely clear liquid cannabis product is being marketed as the perfect additive to a Valentine’s Day “love potion”, while California-based Humboldt Apothecary’s Green Cup-winning Love Potion No. 7 is a cannabis concoction that promises to give you that lovin’ feeling without worrying side effects.
Leading sexual wellness brand, Foria, offers a line of CBD-enhanced intimacy oils for solo or partnered pleasure. Their products include lubricant, suppositories, tonics, and capsules, as well as the option to get a sampling of these with an assortment of raw, hand-crafted chocolates in a Valentine’s Day gift package.
Apothecanna’s cannabis-enhanced “Sexy Time Personal Intimacy Oil” makes similar claims, and comes with some fairly glowing reviews from customers. Research from Headset, an analytics service provider for the cannabis industry, found that women over-indexed men in the massage/lubricant sector of the cannabis market during the February 12-February 14 window in 2019 by more than 29 percent, which suggests that brands like Foria, Apothecanna, and Quim (maker of a popular latex-safe cannabis lube offering a 15 percent V-Day discount) can expect a profitable week leading up to Valentine’s Day 2020.
Forget Godiva Chocolates
Satori is releasing a few new products that would fit perfectly in a gift guide for cannabis couples. Freshen your breath with Satori microdosed peppermints and you’ll be ready to meet your partner with confidence. Satori Mints allow you to conveniently ingest microdosed amounts of THC throughout the day. Sublingual absorption in your mouth allows the THC to take effect faster than traditional edibles, which must be fully digested before effects are typically felt. With only 2 milligrams of THC per mint, you can enjoy a Valentine’s Day date without feeling overwhelmingly high.
Traditional edibles can take up to two hours to be fully felt, which can be a drag when a romantic opportunity develops. Intended to improve on the user experience of edibles, our new fast-acting Strawberries in Milk Chocolate take effect quickly when compared with old-school infusion methods. These award-winning confections cut down on wait time by using VESIsorb technology, proven to help phytocannabinoids absorb more effectively into the body. Set the mood for love with fast-acting Satori Strawberries in Milk Chocolate as a delightful Valentine’s Day dessert.
For cannabis producers and vendors, Valentine’s Day provides an opportunity to win new customers and retain them with innovative products whose benefits last well beyond February 14th, ideally to become staples of an on-going wellness routine.
