How ever you may be spending your day today, the CBD Training Academy wishes you health and prosperity on this most unusual of holidays. Not an official fiesta on most people’s calendars, 4/20 marks an underground salute for the cannabis community, a celebration of the plant and the many ways it makes people’s lives happier and healthier. The holiday was established by four high school friends in Marin County California back in the 1970s and has grown to include official celebrations in dozens of cities worldwide, especially San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta and even Washington D.C.
With the re-emergence of industrial hemp cultivation and the establishment of the Cannabidiol Industry, 4/20 now means that people can experience the myriad benefits of the plant in ways that are evermore medically sound and socially acceptable. As this article suggests the widespread adoption of cannabis legalization has added new dimensions to today’s celebration. As explained by Peter Gigante, head of policy research for Eaze, here are the trends that mark 4/20, version 2.019:
1. Age groups are diversifying.
As more states allow cannabis for adults, new demographics of consumers are discovering the legal marketplace. Baby Boomers are one of the fastest growing segments, increasing by 25 percent over the past year.
2. Women are making their mark.
Female cannabis consumers nearly doubled over 2018, and CBD is driving a new demographic of consumers who are turning to CBD for wellness needs. The growth of women entering the market outpaced men and continued the trend of increasing female participation, now making up 38 percent of cannabis consumers.
3. It’s a wellness alternative.
Cannabis products are used for a variety of wellness applications: overall, 71 percent of consumers reported they reduced (53 percent) or stopped (18 percent) their over-the-counter pain treatment, and 60 percent have reduced or stopped their alcohol consumption.
4. It has holidays throughout the year.
Curious what the most popular cannabis holidays are? Hint: It’s not what you think!
The day before Thanksgiving, or “Green Wednesday,” was the most popular holiday for cannabis consumption in 2018 with 4/20 coming in second. Two Jewish holidays fall in the top 10 holidays list, including Sukkot and Hanukkah.
5. Social justice and inclusion efforts are critical.
Leaders in the cannabis industry are ensuring that social justice programs and diversity and inclusion efforts are a key part of the next phase of growth. We don’t want to leave behind those who have been affected by the “War on Drugs” prior to legal adult use in some states. As part of these efforts, Eaze is partnering with Code for America this 4/20 in a first-of-its-kind partnership to help clear 250,000 criminal records through the nonprofit’s Clear My Record program.
6. Consumers across the U.S. can now access it.
Since the legalization of hemp-derived CBD via the Farm Bill earlier this year, we’ve seen the product sold in traditional brick and mortar stores like Sephora, CVS, and The Vitamin Shoppe and we only expect that to continue.
7. Women are the faces of CBD brands.
Eaze Wellness is an online marketplace that ships hemp-derived CBD to 41 states across the U.S. and more than 75 percent of the brands on the platform are female-led or have a female founder including Mary’s Medicinals, Kush Queen, Kana, and Hora Skin Care.
Whether you’ve been enjoying cannabis and its benefits for years, or are newly canna-curious, it’s important to be educated about the history of the industry, where we are today and what to expect in the future.
You can read the complete article on Greenentrepreneur.com
Want to learn more about what CBD means to the 4/20 holiday? Interested in taking a deeper dive into a career in CBD? You can earn your certification live or online the CBD Training Academy. We offer CBD Certified Professional and CBD Certified Coach courses, along with Business Builders and Success Webinars.
