Do you think edibles will ever overtake combustible/inhalable methods as the most popular way of consuming cannabis?
Mario Naric | Founder and CEO | Motif Labs
“In Canada where I’m based, there is no chance of this occurring. Current legislation prevents edibles from having more than 10 milligrams of THC. This is not a competitive dose.
In jurisdictions where there are no limits, I still find it hard to envision a scenario in which edibles become the most popular method. There is simply too much ritual with flower, and there is far too much ease of use with a vape to suggest edibles will unseat either of them. Additionally, the edibles psychoactive experience is vastly different from an inhalable experience. From my personal experience in working with and speaking to many cannabis consumers, the intensity of an edibles high is simply not for everyone.”
Howard Schacter | Chief communications officer | MariMed, Inc.
“The numbers don’t lie. Edibles are the format of choice for the canna-curious, so as more consumers embrace cannabis, we should see continued growth in edible formats. At the same time, flower is still king in terms of consumption and should be for many more years to come.”
George Sadler | Co-founder and CEO | Gelato Canna Co.
“No. I do think that new ways of consuming cannabis will continue to evolve and that may carve out some of the smokable products. But flower is king and will continue to be king as long as cannabis is on the planet.”
Tyler Rauert | Senior counsel | Fortis Law Partners
“I hope so. In my understanding, edibles are the method of consumption with the fewest negative health impacts. Inhaling smoke is just bad for us, no matter what substance we’re burning.”
Pete Gallagher | Co-founder and CEO | Insa
“We think edibles will eventually overtake combustible/inhalable methods, but it will take time. New cannabis consumers tend to gravitate toward ingestible products such as edibles. As cannabis becomes more socially acceptable and new consumers enter the category, we think edibles benefit.”
Jack Grover | Founder and CEO | Grove Bags
“Broadly, yes. If you look at data from the leading firms such as BDSA or Headset you’ll see that smoking flower has continued to lose ground. I think inherently flower, pre-rolls, extracts and ready-to-go vaporizers will always have a place in the industry. In terms of a hard line in the sand, mature markets seem to have consistently seen inhalable methods lose ground.
Granted, I believe flower can endure as an approximate 30% of top line revenue of a dispensary in a mature market, but the importance of edibles (especially beverages), topicals, sublinguals and other non-inhalation methods cannot be underestimated, particularly for the canna-curious new consumer who has a far lower likelihood of being a smoker of any type. I’m looking at you, Ohio!”
Andrew Kaye | Chief commercial officer | Sweet Leaf Madison Capital
“Although edibles may not overtake inhalables in terms of sales, there’s no question that product segmentation will continue to proliferate. Currently, more than 50% of consumers are women and nearly 60% of consumers are married with children, countering the “hippies and hip hop” image of cannabis consumers. Psychedelics, with a focus on microdosing and a strong pull on the pharmaceutical market, will influence the cannabis markets, perhaps resulting in less powerful strains, suitable for the average consumer looking for a more mellow high. Of course, more and more medical markets will move toward adult use, expanding the market in those states and providing opportunities to service more segments, which will allow varying product types to continue to thrive.”
Harrison Bard | Co-founder and CEO | Custom Cones USA
“Not unless the government steps in and bans smoking/vaping, which is very unlikely. Vape and pre-rolls are the top two and three categories, with the No. 1 category of flower losing share to these each year. Consumers value the unique effects, immediate onset and social aspects of smoking too much for edibles to ever take overtake these categories.”
Arthur de Cordova | Co-founder and CEO | Ziel
“While the flower market has experienced some erosion with the rise of edibles, it will most likely stabilize in the 40% to 45% market position range.”
Christine Smith | CEO | Grön
“In 2024, edibles are unlikely to surpass combustible/inhalable methods in popularity. Yet, with an increasing focus on healthier living, edibles are gaining ground, providing a more personalized cannabis experience. As cannabis education expands and industry normalization progresses, we anticipate a gradual surge in their popularity.”
John Yang | Co-founder and CEO | Treez
“In the year 2024, we predict that the dominance of flower as the top category will persist. However, as legalization expands, more states come on board and a broader segment of the population gains access, the trajectory of edibles is set to ascend. There is a conceivable scenario where edibles could eventually claim the top spot, driven by evolving consumer preferences and accessibility.”
Jaclyn Moore | Co-founder and CEO | Big Island Grown
“While the tradition and ceremony of smoking is deeply ingrained in the culture of cannabis and will remain as the top method of consumption, we expect the edibles category to continue growing as companies refine product offerings.”
Jeremy Zachary | CEO | Zen Cannabis
“Yes, I do. In the not-so-distant future, as the general population becomes familiar with cannabis and more cannabis-based health-and-wellness products are introduced into consumer product goods, we’ll see edibles become a primary consumption method. I think we’re at a stage where the gates are down and breaking bread with friends by passing the joint is celebratory. Same was said of cigarettes in the 1950s. There will always be that time for a Thai stick with a friend, but for the daily consumer, discretion and titration is important.”
Jerry P. Griffin | Vice president | Baymedica
“Yes. Flower and other inhalables provide inconsistent and unpredictable effects. Combustion also degrades and/or changes the molecular structure of cannabinoids that possess important health, wellness and effect value (so does the gut, but there’s a solution for that). Furthermore, you cannot replicate inhalable products market to market which is incredibly important from a brand building perspective. This is not to say inhalables will shrink. It will certainly grow, but by percentage, edibles/beverages will have a larger market share in the not-too-distant future.”
Kenny Morrison | Founder | CQ
“Not without cannabis drinks sharing store shelves with alcohol beverages, which will in turn pave the way for cannabis tablets to share store shelves with aspirin.”
Katie Enright | Founder | Lavinia
“We’re definitely witnessing the start of a flavor revolution. While the classics still have their charm, the culinary sophistication of edibles is reshaping consumption preferences. It’s an exciting time for variety and innovation in the cannabis experience.”