Cannabis 3.0

Cannabis 3.0 incorporates the future of the legal cannabis market. Post-2018, the market has started witnessing dynamic changes particularly in terms of value-based outcomes. This includes a shift from the traditional approach of smoking whole cannabis flower/bud to the consumption of processed, quantified and packaged products derived from cannabis. Earlier to 2019 the cannabis market was unsteady due to uncertain and confusing regulations, non – standardized products, and uneven supply & demand. This made it difficult for companies and investors to conduct business in this space.

In order to compensate for these hindrances, the stakeholders are moving to Cannabis 3.0, a non-official initiative towards standardization of the industry. The advent of packaged and labelled goods produced from cannabis (hemp and marijuana) will help companies, regulators and consumers altogether. The entry of cannabis pharmaceuticals, labelled edibles and infused beverages is expected to create a stable market. For instance, pharmaceutical products like Sativex, Epidiolex, Nabilone, Dronabinol and others (in pipeline) will not only boost medical cannabis market but, as these drugs are developed & regulated through a stringent process, will also improve physician and patient perspective on quantifiable benefits of cannabis-based drugs. Furthermore, it will also help companies to conduct clinical studies to broaden their indications.

Similarly, edibles, packaged goods such as infused beverages, nutraceuticals and supplements market is also expected to gain a lot of momentum in the coming years. Few key drawbacks of smoking cannabis are the uncertainty on the quantity of cannabinoids consumed, low preference of doctors to prescribe smoking products, and other harmful effects of smoking such as the release of chemicals, particles and tar. However, the entry of infused products such as beverages, edibles, supplements and topical eliminates this. With tested and properly labelled infused edibles and beverages, their adoption is expected to rise. It will also help manufacturers target specific customers and align their marketing campaigns.

To conclude, Cannabis 3.0 encompasses the expected trends and their effects on the market. The most peculiar trend that we anticipate with Cannabis 3.0 is the shift from the whole flower to entry myriad manufactured products that use cannabis as a raw material. It is a movement that will involve, data-driven insights, new technologies and evidence-based outcomes to introduce new cannabis-based products in the market. The market is anticipated to witness the entry of several new players including established F&B companies like Coca Cola to Pharmaceutical giants such as Sanofi S.A & Merck & Co. It will also enable several new products lines to enter the market and assure consumers of the safety and efficacy of the products. Cannabis 3.0 is still an idea that is in a nascent stage and will gain momentum from early to late 2020.