Everyone is making all kinds of predictions about what’s going to be hot for cannabis in 2019 and, honestly, some of these people have to be high. (We can’t blame them for that!)
2018 was a pretty amazing year for cannabis lovers. Several US states gave the go-ahead to either medical cannabis or adult-use (or both). The FDA approved its first-ever drug derived from cannabis. And the Farm Bill was signed, legalizing hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) oil — a HUGE win. Oh, and let’s not forget that Canada gave us another reason for moving there as they became the first industrialized country EVER to legalize recreational marijuana. That’s progress!
We’ve been running our own Ignite eye over what trends we think are going to break through, out, and up for 2019 and present them here in this helpful article (if we say so ourselves). In no particular order…
Terpenes & Dabbing
What the hell are terpenes? They’re the compounds that give the cannabis its flavor, but it doesn’t stop there. You see, they also boost the sensory experience a whole bunch, working with THC to make a stronger end-product that neither could do without the other. Researchers and scientists are now looking into terpenes to see what else we don’t know about them. As more is learned, the better the high and the more improved the taste will become — and we might even learn of some additional medicinal benefits. Terp juice — an extra-strong concentrate that has elevated levels of terpenes — is being called by some the most potent form of cannabis on the market. Dabbing terps is one of our favorite pastimes here at Ignite; if you want to get in on the action, our Platinum Hybrid Sauce does the trick nicely and is available at California dispensaries statewide. (Click here to find it).
Legalization & Politics
With a Democratic House now in session, we can expect plenty of talk around various marijuana bills — and that’s because they’ve been promising it in their campaign pledges. Will we see an end to prohibition on a national level; will we all be able to buy hemp wherever we are? Just ask Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who put together a handy memo that lays out just how we can make cannabis legal in 2019.
Vaping — It’s here to stay
In 2018, over 30% of cannabis sales in sunny California were vapes, so expect 2019 to be the year of the vape. They’re also the quickest growing product in the legal cannabis market and experts predict that vapes will be a $43 billion industry by 2023. There are two ways to vape; vaping cannabis oil or vaping the flower. The flower is a generic term that refers to the trichome-covered part of the female cannabis plant and is also known as bud, nugs, or nuggets. It’s also now 43% of the market. The difference between smoking and vaping is that smoking burns the entire plant so you’re inhaling everything (known as the entourage effect) while vaping they’re only inhaling the parts of the plant the manufacturer has mixed into the oil. Vaping flower is marginally safer than oils, but has more variation from batch to batch.
CBD — The gateway we’ve all been waiting for
Minor hemp cannabinoids will take over in 2019. CBN (cannabinol) is looking good for those who suffer insomnia. CBC (cannabichromene) helps as an anti-inflammatory. And CBG (cannabigerol) is believed to have both neuroprotectant and anti-bacterial elements. Expect to see more from hemp oil for pain as researchers continue to make strides. CBD is likely to overtake THC in general awareness and sales.
So, all in all, from hemp cannabinoids to full spectrum hemp, we’re looking at a great year for cannabis in 2019. Happy budding!
