Anne-Marie Fischer
Edibles and microdosing reign supreme in pre-holiday cannabis sales
Despite the fact that 45% of Americans would rather skip the holiday season altogether, the holiday season is yet upon us, giving most of us no choice but to participate either willingly or unwillingly in the hustle and bustle of the month.
ThinkFinance reported that 69% of Americans see the holiday time as incredibly stressful, citing lack of time, lack of money, and the pressure to buy and give gifts as specific stressors.
This is where the legal cannabis industry steps in, giving consumers cannabis-based options other than spiked eggnog to help take the edge off the stress of the season.
Convenience is Key
According to Headset and Baker, the week before Christmas is “the biggest time of the year” for cannabis retail, with average weekly sales increasing by 11.2% and the average basket value (the total of what individuals purchase) increasing by 5%.
During this time of year, beverages, edibles, and pre-rolls become the most popular products of choice for cannabis consumers prepping for the holiday.
Jamie Garzot, founder and CEO of Synergy and 530 Cannabis in Shasta County, CA can testify to this. Products like bite-sized edibles such as cannabis-infused mints, honey sticks, and gummies are flying off the shelves of her cannabis retail spaces. According to Garzot, microdosed edibles are gaining popularity as more embrace this consumption trend around the hectic holidays. Concentrates are also up in sales since Halloween.
Taking the Stress out of Gift Giving
Cannabis retailers can use creative strategies to help address some of the above-mentioned stressors, including gift giving. Creating gift boxes or gift baskets with various samples can help reduce the stress of gift-giving (especially now that it’s legal to give the gift of cannabis in places like California) while enticing new customers into the store.
Gift guides are a popular way for cannabis retailers to offer special deals while building awareness around their available products. These resources give customers, who usually start looking at their holiday gift options early in the season, a plan for their gift buying while using the opportunity to engage them in the post-Christmas sales.
Gift Recommendations from Green Market Report
We’ve kept our ears to the ground all year to understand what consumers are looking for while witnessing hundreds of new products hit the market to enhance the cannabis experience.
Here is Green Market Report’s list of some of the cannabis-themed gifts that are guaranteed to please the cannabis consumer in your life:
Green Dot Labs, Colorado’s premier and longest-running cannabis extraction brand, is releasing Black Label Experience Tasting Flights, each featuring a pair of uncut .5 ML Black Label Full Spectrum Extract (FSE) Cartridges that have been carefully curated to highlight vivid and unique tasting notes from Green Dot Labs’ unparalleled genetic library of 150-plus rare and exotic varietals.
Jane West CBD Coffee is a wonderful gift for those looking for an easy and nourishing way to add the health and wellness benefits of CBD to their daily lives. Developed in collaboration with SteepFuze, a Boulder-based pioneer in CBD-infused coffee and tea, Jane West CBD Coffee combines responsibly sourced small-batch coffee beans with full-spectrum CBD derived from Colorado-grown organic hemp.
Bhang‘s Ice Chocolate bar is the perfect way to start your holidays off with a Bhang. This cannabis-infused chocolate has a refreshing mint flavor, derived from natural peppermint oils. Bhang’s award-winning chef and Bhang CEO, Scott Van Rixel, created this chocolate to appeal to all the senses. Unlike competitors in the space, Bhang tastes like chocolate – not cannabis. Available in compliant packaging, a variety of flavors and at an excellent price point with Fair Trade, sustainable-sourced cacao.
Lowell Herb Co. is best known for their pre-roll packs as the #1 pre-roll in CA, but their line also includes sleek jars of vacuum-sealed flower and lifestyle merchandise. For the holidays, Lowell Herb Co. is offering beautifully curated tasting sets and the ultimate rolling kit to satisfy every gifting need. All the flower at Lowell Herb Co. is 100% organically-grown and pesticide-free, cultivated in greenhouses and triple-lab-tested ensuring only top quality all while remaining affordable for everyone.
Ideal for gifting your favorite cannabis loving friend or hanging up at your next holiday party, this product is sure to make a statement. Zoma Cannabis introduces Mistletoke, mistletoe with a cannabis twist. The limited edition holiday décor features boughs of mistletoe intertwined with three perfectly trimmed stems of Zoma Envirocann organic cannabis. More than a decoration, Mistletoke is the gift that will definitely heighten your holiday spirits! The best thing is, the buds can be broken off and smoked following the holiday season.
Relax and Enjoy!
While the holiday season may be full of stress, it’s also a time to put on the brakes, indulge, and find ways to kick back and relax. Do your planning early, and take advantage of all the awesome offers that existing and emerging cannabis businesses have to offer like these ideas above. Skip the booze and hangovers, and find your relaxation (and fun!) in cannabis.
