{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/trends/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2792-markdown","title":"HelloMD’s Pamela Hadfield Talks Trends at Wine & Weed","slug":"hellomds-pamela-hadfield-talks-trends-at-wine-and-weed","content":"HelloMD’s co-founder [Pamela Hadfield](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-hadfield-19a986?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F) joined a lively roster of industry insiders at the [Wine & Weed Symposium](http://wine-weed.com/nc/), held in Santa Rosa, CA last week. Pamela gave her take on the latest cannabis trends that she’s seen crop up over the past year or more.\n\nIntroduced by [David Downs](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrdowns), the new California bureau chief at [Leafly](https://www.leafly.com/), Pamela got rolling with some of the biggest trends such as cannabis going mainstream, what with politicians on both sides of the aisle identifying as pro-cannabis. And she shared personal stories along the way—including how her own decades-long pain as a migraine sufferer got her to see cannabis in a new light.\n\nFollowing are excerpts from her walk through the **top 10 emerging trends in cannabis**:\n\n![Hello1-min (31).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello1_min_31_9aec95fc52.png)\n\n### Trend #1: Cannabis Goes Mainstream\n\n“Some might say that cannabis has been mainstream for some time. I would argue that 2018 and 2019 are where we're going to see the tipping point in terms of the conversation around cannabis, the destigmatization of it … We have 30 medically legal states and Washington, D.C. And we have nine recreationally legal states. What this is doing is it's forcing the conversation across the country.\n\n“We also see that mainstream media is accepting cannabis. When we look at O magazine, and it does a large spread on cannabis, or we look at _Goop_, **Gwyneth Paltrow's** platform, and they're talking about cannabis so readily, it changes the conversation across the nation. … When you look at the _New York Times_, when you look at _Vogue_, when you look at _Forbes_ and their willingness to accept this and write about cannabis, that's going to change how we all accept it, because we're shaped by the media around us.”\n\n![Hello4-min (22).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello4_min_22_6ff20480bb.png)\n\n### Trend #2: Cannabis for Health & Wellness\n\n“Most people who come to HelloMD, I would qualify them either as having compromised health or as a lifestyle consumer. What's interesting is, if you start out as a lifestyle consumer, say somebody in their mid-30s who comes back to cannabis after not trying it since college, this lifestyle consumer maybe somebody who just wants to relax on a Friday night. That person will often cycle into using it more than for health and wellness concerns like insomnia or anxiety, and somebody like myself who wasn't truly medical but had compromised health would never have considered being a lifestyle consumer before.\n\n“But after cannabis solves some of my health issues, I now may consume it to feel a little bit better on a Friday night. If you end up taking some cannabis to decrease stress, that's for your health, that's for your own wellness. So people are starting to look at cannabis in a very different way—as a tool for wellness—and that's something I'm really excited about because I believe that this should be accessible to everyone for that reason.”\n\n![Hello6-min (7).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello6_min_7_74b6aad113.png)\n\n### Trend #3: Cannabis as the Exit Drug for the Opioid Epidemic\n\n“Seventy thousand people across North America are dying every year from opioid overdoses. HelloMD did one of the largest studies on chronic pain, cannabis, and opioids; 3,000 patients were surveyed about introducing cannabis into their treatment protocol. The fascinating thing was once they started to use cannabis, it actually increased the efficacy of the opioids, and they decreased their consumption. Ninety-seven percent of people indicated they decreased or eliminated use of opioids altogether. That's an amazing statistic.\n\n“And there's a lot of new research out there that's mimicking exactly what we found. The biggest hurdle I see in terms of the widespread adoption of cannabis as an exit drug to the opioid epidemic is not general consumers. It's the general practitioners who continue to not look at the research, to not accept cannabis as a valuable treatment. So I urge everyone in this room to talk to your doctor.”\n\n![Hello1-min (13).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello1_min_13_54fd85da01.png)\n\n### Trend #4: Big Pharma’s Move Into Cannabis\n\n“I see a lot of undercurrents of what's happening with Big Pharma in the cannabis industry. And my prediction is that within two to five years, assuming that federal law changes and cannabis goes out of Schedule 1 status, is that Big Pharma will swoop in. \n\n“The big pharmaceutical company that's betting on cannabis right now is GW Pharma, based in the U.K. The FDA just approved its antiseizure medication, Epidiolex. And I think the unique thing about that medication is that it’s actually using whole plants. The reason I mention that is because Big Pharma’s tendency is much more to go towards synthetic cannabinoids, developing synthetics out of barley, yeast, different things like that.”\n \n“Meanwhile, what’s feeding into Big Pharma is biotech companies that are creating these synthetic cannabinoids. For example, there's a company up in Canada that's been very successful at creating THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) out of, I believe it's a yeast. And so they’re going to be poised for acquisition by Big Pharma.”\n\n![Hello3-min (25).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello3_min_25_dbe4baa854.png)\n\n### Trend #5: One Size Does Not Fit All\n\n“When I walked into dispensaries about five years ago, what I noticed was that all of the products pretty much seemed the same. A lot of them would be almost entirely all flower and very, very high THC content. I would ask, ‘Do you have anything lower in THC? And they would actually laugh at me and say, ‘Nobody wants that.’ And I was like, ‘Well, I kind of need and want that.’ \n \n“Demand is now pushing innovation. We’re in a culture where we have one of the best product arrays available on the planet. We have incredibly innovative new products coming out all of the time, and a lot of them are lower in THC and high in CBD (cannabidiol), which is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant.”\n\n![Hello6-min (8).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello6_min_8_fe2e21717c.png)\n\n### Trend #6: Over-Regulation With Adult-Use Legalization in CA\n\n“I've heard from a lot of people who come from Canada and say, ‘We come down to California to look at your product selection. We come down to look and see what you guys are making.’ Since Prop 64 passed and since January 1, the cannabis industry has basically been decimated by overregulation. We went from having probably 1,500 dispensaries operating legally to about 300 in the state. We went from having over 1,000 brands to having just 150 or so compliant legal brands in the state today.\n\n“We also have what I think is the biggest travesty of overregulation, which is Californians were basically voting to have a legal system so that everyone could have access because that was the dream. That's what they were sold, but the reality is that 70% of the state right now is practically dry—70%.\n\n“Now, when you think about a patient, I think about myself. If I couldn't get access to medication, it would probably drive me to the black market. But when you look at all of these medical patients across California and patients who actually need access, they’re not given access because local municipalities have deemed it unsafe to have cannabis dispensaries or delivery within their jurisdiction.”\n\n![Hello4-min (24).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello4_min_24_8240521b5f.png)\n\n### Trend #7: Microdosing Cannabis\n\n“This has been on the rise for quite some time. Microdosing is the idea that you take the minimum amount of cannabis or any other substance to create the maximum overall beneficial effect. I like to compare microdosing to wine. If you drink a whole bottle of wine, most people won't feel very good. \n\n“Most people, when they start with cannabis, they have that macro-dose experience, and it scares them off of trying cannabis again. So, when you talk about microdosing and on-ramping people, this is like giving them that sort of half glass of wine, right? And just allowing them to try cannabis and try it safely and to titrate up.\n\n“So we're seeing an enormous amount of products by a variety of brands right now that offer very low-dose microdosed cannabis products.”\n\n![Hello2-min (31).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello2_min_31_35e907dddd.png)\n\n### Trend #8: Weight Management With Cannabis\n\n“The reality is cannabis consumers tend to have a lower BMI (body mass index) and a lower or a smaller waist size than non-cannabis consumers do. Now you could say that’s sort of negligible, but THC has many different components within it that actually changes your gut microbiome; it actually can help speed up your metabolism.\n\n“The other interesting thing is that CBD has been found in new research to also boost metabolism, but it will also convert white fat cells to brown fat cells. And brown fat cells actually burn energy.”\n\n![Hello1-min (19).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello1_min_19_7ffdcd5854.png)\n\n### Trend #9: Other Cannabinoids\n\n“There are now new cannabinoids—other than CBD and THC—that you can select on dispensary shelves and have delivered to your door. For example, CBG (cannabigerol), which promotes bone growth and is anti-spasmodic. And when you take the whole plant together, they have tremendous therapeutic value.”\n\n![Hello3-min (26).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello3_min_26_d232153610.png)\n\n### Trend #10: Terpenes\n\n“Terpenes are amazing. They’re part of the cannabis plant that creates that aromatic smell and have been shown to have incredible therapeutic value. Terpenes aren’t just in cannabis but are in many different plants.\n\n“You'll start to see people talking about terpenes in addition to cannabinoids when you buy products. A certain product will have linalool, and these are the effects. And this is the smell pinene, which is the smell of pine, and so on.”\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post.\n\n### Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online\n\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online [Telehealth service HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/get-started/). Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/ee604/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.png","srcSet":"/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/69585/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.png 200w,\n/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/497c6/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.png 400w,\n/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/ee604/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.png 800w","srcWebp":"/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/58556/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/61e93/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.webp 200w,\n/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/1f5c5/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.webp 400w,\n/static/36435f2b99f7e9168ad889462df2f9ce/58556/c1e008e41ea6b82f821d4cc1015603b6.webp 800w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2764-markdown","title":"Top Trends in Cannabis Post Adult-Use Legalization in CA","slug":"top-trends-in-cannabis-post-adult-use-legalization-in-ca","content":"Starting a company in the cannabis industry in California has given me a bird’s-eye view into emerging trends. Some trends come on quickly and have staying power, while others blow up, then seemingly evaporate overnight.\n\nEvery few months, I report on what I see, the latest trends that emerge and come to the fore, whether they be statewide, nationwide or global. Here’s what I’ve been seeing and thinking about lately.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### 1. Restricted Access to Cannabis Despite Adult-Use Legalization\n\nThis may sound like an oxymoron. With legalization, aren’t we gaining easy access to cannabis? It depends. In California, we had a functional legal medical marijuana system for 20 years, where gaining access to medication was fairly easy. You have a doctor’s consultation, you get a medical recommendation, and typically you could have cannabis delivered to your door within hours. If you lived in a rural area, there was even a possibility of shopping online and receiving statewide delivery. \n\nNow, post legalization, we’re living in an era of over-regulation. Retail and delivery licenses are expensive and often hard to come by. Many municipalities have banned cannabis altogether, creating large dry counties and corridors throughout the state.\n\nOver-reaching regulations have burdened manufacturers to the point where many have decided they can’t afford to do business, or it’s too difficult to understand or keep up with newly emerging regulations. For instance, prior to legalization, there were 1,500 different cannabis brands to select product from; today there are around 150.\n\n\nIn other states, what I call fear-of-cannabis by state regulators creates unnecessary barriers for patients. In some instances, there’s a requirement to not only get a medical recommendation but to register with the state as well. For a substance that’s still federally illegal, this is too much to ask. In other states, the condition list is so restricted that you must be critically ill in order to access medical marijuana.\n\nCannabis has been shown to be a better alternative to opioids for chronic pain; it’s a natural alternative to many other pharmaceuticals that have horrible side effects. New statistics on legal states have shown there has been very little downside in the legalization of cannabis, and the best part, no one dies from consuming cannabis.\n\nYet fear of the plant and over-regulation have restricted legal access and in most cases lead to a thriving black market where no one, other than the dealer, wins.\n\n### 2. This Is No Longer a One-Size-Fits-All Cannabis Culture\n\n![Cannabis products sold in the HelloMD store](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/markdown-image-injector-2d7fccb2-24f4-456b-b877-6628cb356aeb/original.jpg)\n\nA few years ago, if you went into a dispensary and asked for a microdosed cannabis product with small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per dose, you might be laughed out the door. Invariably, the response was, “That’s not what people want. They just want to get high.”\n\nBy and large, dispensaries created menus based around the “people just want to get high” mantra and didn’t pay much attention to anything other than sales numbers. Often, you’d see a wide selection of flower with 17–23% THC and edibles such as the saran-wrapped brownie prominently displayed.\n\nToday, there’s a diversity of product types, professionally branded products and a new kind of consumer walking through the door. They’re often college educated, middle aged or older, and they’re interested not only in health and wellness, but in modulating the high. These folks want to go “low and slow”; they want to try a variety of products, including those high in cannabidiol (CBD). \n\nAs a result, retailers who want to survive and thrive have to respond to their customers’ needs and requests. This is standard in any other industry, but a relatively new concept in cannabis. The one-size-fits-all model no longer applies.\n\n### 3. CBD Goes Mainstream\n\nCannabidiol, or CBD, has been on a steady growth pattern for a while, but in the last year, it appears to have spiked. CBD is well known for being non-psychoactive as well as possessing many medicinal properties, including easing inflammation, pain, nausea and vomiting, seizures and muscle convulsion or spasms.\n\nCBD has also been found to promote healthy bone growth and can help reduce vascular tension and artery blockage. And it’s helpful in reducing anxiety. It also happens to be an excellent antidote to the high associated with its chemical cannabinoid cousin THC.\n\nNow that the word’s out on CBD, almost any marijuana dispensary or delivery service has a selection of CBD-rich or CBD-dominant products. This wasn’t the case even two years ago. Today, you’ll see CBD products, which include edibles, pre-rolls, flower, topical salves and more.\n\nIn legal states, some people erroneously believe that CBD is better or more effective than THC is from a medical standpoint, and many lawmakers advocate for CBD-only to be legalized. In fact, both CBD and THC have many medicinal properties, some of which may be the same and others that may vary from one another.\n\nThe perception of CBD’s medicinal value and the desire to obtain these effects has also led to an explosion of the hemp-derived CBD marketplace that’s now a nationwide, if not global phenomenon. Hemp-derived CBD is derived from the cannabis hemp plant, which is a different variety from the cannabis marijuana plant.\n\nIn some people’s minds, CBD derived from the hemp plant, which contains less than 0.03% of THC, is the redheaded stepsister to cannabis marijuana. It’s true that the hemp-derived CBD products lack the variety of other cannabinoids as well as terpenes present in most cannabis marijuana products, but for many people—especially for those who live in states where CBD from marijuana is illegal—the medicinal benefits may still apply.\n\nThere’s both an upside and downside to the availability of hemp-derived CBD product. On the one hand, it’s unregulated and therefore easy to gain access it, although still somewhat of a gray area. On the other hand, it’s unregulated and there are potential safety issues over plant sourcing and regulated testing requirements.\n\nIn addition, there’s a lot of confusion over the differences between cannabis hemp and cannabis marijuana as well as what to look for and expect. HelloMD has a number of [educational articles on hemp](https://www.hellomd.com/search?type=article&term=HEMP) and is a resource for those looking to learn more about CBD derived from hemp.\n\nThe real upside to hemp-derived CBD being available nationwide is that patients everywhere have the opportunity to see if a CBD product will work for their needs. In other words, this opens up accessibility for patients who may need it the most.\n\nPhoto credit: [Drew Saurus](https://unsplash.com/@drew_saurus)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQGBf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAFtuRYjaJkT/8QAGxAAAwACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQTISL/2gAIAQEAAQUC1qgy5Fym0FZT1TwDn//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABD/2gAIAQMBAT8BP//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAR/9oACAECAQE/Aaf/xAAeEAABBAEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIQESEiMTKBkf/aAAgBAQAGPwLU4erkFQz3DTe8f//EABoQAQEBAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAESFBYfH/2gAIAQEAAT8hEcgn3JaRnuY+Ih2s7JXb/9oADAMBAAIAAwAAABCQ/wD/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEBH/2gAIAQMBAT8QBTZ//8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBEx/9oACAECAQE/EEg//8QAGxABAAMBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARMSFRcZH/2gAIAQEAAT8QGSNXRb9nj+CDitAHfIgq6LQLqKVyEpqtdimyX2f/2Q==","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/14b42/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/f836f/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg 200w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/2244e/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg 400w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/14b42/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg 800w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/47498/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/0e329/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg 1600w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/2dd31/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.jpg 2014w","srcWebp":"/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/58556/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/61e93/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp 200w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/1f5c5/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp 400w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/58556/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp 800w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/99238/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp 1200w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/7c22d/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp 1600w,\n/static/405c00e869c8ae0f43734e0f865a8090/4098a/6b8d8c1b9b4faceed87909a6c6a1b55c.webp 2014w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2593-markdown","title":"Top 4 Trends in Cannabis for 2018","slug":"top-4-trends-in-cannabis-for-2018","content":"Working in the cannabis industry, I’m always amazed by how quickly the landscape changes. New trends seem to spring out of the ground, some taking hold with others dying off almost as quickly as they appeared. Now that we’ve fully entered into the new year, it’s time to look at my first installment of the top trends dawning in 2018. Here’s my list of the top four marijuana trends for 2018.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Trend #1: Cannabis Goes Mainstream Worldwide\n\n`embed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BgcOvNHFAs3/`\n_Kikoko's cannabis teas are featured in Oprah's magazine._\n\nWhen my co-founder and I launched HelloMD over four years ago in California, more than a few people made it clear to us that getting into this industry was “a lot like getting into porn or gambling.” The implication was that it was an industry hiding in the shadows and moreover something to be ashamed of. Friends suggested that I make a “Plan B” and told me that having a family while getting involved in cannabis was on the fringe of what might be considered “respectable.” I was called a drug dealer more times than I care to think about, even though product sales was not a part of our roadmap at the time.\n\nFast forward to today, and everything’s changing—and fast. As of now, nine U.S. states have recreational cannabis laws and 19 more states allow marijuana for medical use. Opinion polls indicate that 61% of Americans support cannabis legalization, the highest it’s ever been. Canada, our progressive neighbor to the north, is now dwarfing the U.S. in regards to cannabis research, development and a federal government that supports medicinal and adult-use marijuana among the general population. Not to mention the fact that the Canadian stock exchange is going crazy for marijuana companies. \n\nThe cannabis industry is also now looking to Germany, where the federal government is embracing legalization and cannabis as a “[doctor-prescribed, insurance-paid, and pharmacy-provided product](https://internationalcbc.com/could-germany-become-the-worlds-largest-cannabis-market/).” Germany, the largest member state of the European Union, is now poised to possibly be the world’s largest cannabis market, with its 82 million citizens and positive economic growth forecast.\n\nAnd women are stepping forward, supporting cannabis in the myriad ways that it may be used and consumed. I’ve held a firm belief since my time starting in the cannabis industry, that marijuana would begin to really go mainstream when women embraced the consumption of cannabis. This includes moms who use cannabis to help ease their children’s seizures as well as women who merely advocate for using cannabis as a way to relax and unwind. \n\nWe’ve seen Gwyneth Paltrow vaping within the glossy pages of her magazine _Goop_. In an interview, she states, “It’s incredible to see people who can’t sleep, or people who have chronic pain, report really positive results (with marijuana), and it’s a natural substance.” And most recently, _O Magazine_ did a feature article on Kikoko, an innovative women-owned business in California that hosts high-end tea parties with cannabis-infused tea. When Oprah Winfrey deems cannabis acceptable enough to grace her pages, it’s time to take note. \n\n**FORECAST:** We’ve reached the tipping point. 2018 is the year that cannabis comes out of the closet and goes mainstream. Women will be the driving force in mainstream acceptance as stigma decreases and more mainstream stars, such as Oprah, give cannabis their stamp of approval.\n\n### Trend #2: Cannabis as an Alcohol Replacement\n\n![Cannabis replaces alcohol](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5abbda6ff24d1300077ccba1-7653114a-fe13-4cc5-9b6a-7a0faf8261a4/original.jpg)\n\nRecently, I decided to reduce my alcohol intake, and sometimes use cannabis instead.  In my experience, microdosing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an effective alcohol replacement, without any of the negative side effects that come with drinking alcohol. Consuming cannabidiol (CBD), which has anti-anxiety properties and is non-psychoactive, also helps me relax and unwind after a stressful day at work. Reasons for substituting alcohol with cannabis may vary person to person, but it’s clear that cannabis is starting to be viewed as a healthier substitute for alcohol.\n\nAlcohol is socially acceptable and taps into the pleasure-reward circuit in our brains, yet it causes a multitude of health problems—and in extreme cases death. Nearly 88,000 deaths are attributed to alcohol in the U.S. every year. It affects coordination, memory and even the executive functions of the cerebral cortex. It’s a depressant, can lead to alcoholism and damages the liver. And recent research has indicated that even moderate drinking can lead to brain damage. (Thanks, but I need all the brain cells I have left.) Alcohol is effectively a poison to our bodies; it’s a neurotoxin and, as we all know, can cause nasty unwanted hangovers the day after.\n\nCannabis also taps into our brain’s pleasure-reward circuit, allowing most people to feel good, if not euphoric. The big difference is that marijuana interacts with our endocannabinoid system (ECS), which has receptors throughout the body that respond to the compounds, or cannabinoids, within the plant. These cannabinoids create effects, depending on the person, such as pain relief, relaxation, an increased desire to sleep, decreased inflammation and even a stronger immune response, among other things. Even if someone consumes cannabis recreationally, they may have positive medical outcomes based on the properties inherent within the plant.\n\nFor the health conscious, or for folks who just want to reduce their intake of alcohol overall, cannabis is a great solution. A recent report indicates that millennials “are leading a major shift in consumption behavior as the stigma of cannabis use decreases and the collective perspective of cannabis shifts in a positive direction.” It seems that the purported medical benefits of cannabis minus the negative side effects of alcohol are making an excellent substitution for Friday night beers or Mommy’s chardonnay. In many instances, people have cited that they see marijuana as the “safer” choice over alcohol, and that with cannabis they’re less likely to make poor decisions, such as drinking and driving.\n\nAs people age, the risk of hangovers from alcohol increases. Consuming cannabis doesn’t lead to the same type of response. Although it’s not widely known why we get an alcohol hangover, some research indicates that it’s an inflammatory response that occurs in our bodies, similar to when we fight a viral infection. With cannabis, you don’t lose the entire day after, and as a result it feels as if it leads to a healthier and more active lifestyle for many.\n\nThe good news about this trend is that there have been zero cannabis-related deaths, so if society collectively shifts towards cannabis as an alcohol replacement, it may also save lives. And let’s face it, you don’t find many people in a bar fight after vaping cannabis.\n\n**FORECAST:** Cannabis is increasingly becoming more socially acceptable and is a great alternative to alcohol. As a result, people are taking notice. Expect to see more and more people abstaining from alcohol in lieu of cannabis as well as more cannabis gatherings where alcohol is decidedly absent.\n  \n### Trend #3: Cannabinoid THCV Can Help With Weight Management\n\n![THCV suppresses appetite](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5abbda6ff24d1300077ccba1-55da7ee6-514f-4b64-b1d8-9a01b68ee757/original.jpg)\n\nEveryone knows about THC, the rock star cannabinoid in marijuana that boasts not only numerous medicinal properties but the psychoactivity that produces the high cannabis is so well known for. People are now also aware of CBD, the other superstar cannabinoid that’s non-psychoactive and is also an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic; it’s also really good at quelling anxiety.\n\nNow we have a new cannabinoid kid on the block: tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)—and the hype may be warranted.\n\nTHCV was called the “[sports car of cannabinoids](https://www.steephill.com/blogs/38)” by Steep Hill labs for the strong energetic effect it creates. It contains around 25% of the psychoactivity of THC and may reduce or even stop panic attacks, which may be common for some people when ingesting strains higher in THC.\n\nTHCV is also known to be an anti-convulsant and a neuroprotectant; it may help with diabetes and is becoming well known for suppressing appetite. For people looking to eat less or radically suppress the desire to binge eat, THCV may be a possible solution. Note though, that THCV may make sleeping more difficult, so consuming it late at night to avoid fridge raids may be ill-advised.\n\nIt’s very rare to find THCV on its own. Most likely, it’s within cannabis flowers that also contain THC. Interestingly, THCV has the ability to alter some of THC’s effects, including elevated heart rate or impaired short-term memory. If you’re easily able to tolerate THC and enjoy psychoactive effects, THCV may be your ticket to weight management and increased energy.\n\n**FORECAST:** People who are interested in weight management and a more balanced high will be asking cannabis retailers for strains higher in THCV. This in turn will lead to more strains becoming available. In addition, THCV-dominant strains will start to appear as well as THCV distillates.\n\n### Trend #4: Indica & Sativa Are Out—Terpenes Are In \n\n![Phylos galaxy mapping cannabis genetics](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5abbda6ff24d1300077ccba1-eaa6b889-3c47-455f-9d97-69a398f9e90a/original.jpg)\n_The Phylos Galaxy, a data visualization of cannabis genetics._\n\n“Help me find an indica strain that will put me to sleep.” This is a common statement along with, “Which sativa will wake me up and help me feel more energetic, more focused?” Typically, people go into a dispensary, and the cannabis consultant might suggest an indica for sleep or relaxation, a sativa for energetic daytime use or a hybrid strain for something in between. But according to genetics researchers, these classifications are now misleading, if not downright untrue. Mowgli Holmes, a geneticist that started Phylos Bioscience says, “If there were ever discrete varieties like that (indica, sativa, hybrid), they're gone now—they've just been bred out of existence.”\n\nMowgli’s company is mapping the genetics of cannabis through DNA sequencing with the goal of understanding the evolutionary history of each strain in the hopes of helping people better understand what they’re consuming. Creating [data visualization from each cannabis sample](http://galaxy.phylosbioscience.com/) has allowed us to see how closely related—or not—one strain is to another.\n\nClusters within the galaxy show close relationships between varieties of cannabis such as OG Kush, one of the most popular strains sold on the market today. In other words, many varieties are closely related, but have little to or nothing to do with indica, sativa or hybrid. To complicate matters, varieties were crossed with each other more frequently over the past 40 years, resulting in a big mish mash, creating even less certainty over lineage.  \n\nIn lieu of sativa, indica and hybrid, many people are beginning to refer to the terpene profile of marijuana strains, which in many ways may have a larger impact on the overall effects as well as the therapeutic value of different cannabis strains. Terpenes are the oil compounds found in plants, such as cannabis, and some insects. They’re responsible for the taste and smell of cannabis plants, and possess medicinal benefits. There are 140 or more terpenes within cannabis, and they’re thought to increase the effects of the cannabinoids within cannabis. \n\nA recent study  by Dr. Ethan Russo, the director of research and development at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, found that “[terpenoids are quite potent, and affect animal and even human behavior when inhaled](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/).” They also noted that “[terpenes] display unique therapeutic effects that may contribute meaningfully to the entourage effects of cannabis-based medicinal extracts.”\n\nInterestingly, some terpenes act as an inhibitor to THC’s psychoactive high, which increases cannabis’s therapeutic values. Russo says terpenes “increase the potential of cannabis-based medicinal extracts to treat pain, inflammation, fungal and bacterial infections, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy and even cancer.”\n\n**FORECAST:** We’ll see sativa, indica and hybrid used less and less in branded products and start to see individual terpenes listed when applicable.\n\nWe’ll have to see what the rest of 2018 has in store for the cannabis industry, but it’s clear that innovations in cannabis plants and products aren’t slowing down anytime soon. \n\nPhoto credits: [Josh Felise](https://unsplash.com/@jfelise) for main image; [Jamie Street](https://unsplash.com/@jamie452) for Trend #2 image; [Jonathan Rolande](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanrolande/) for Trend #3 image; [Phylos Bioscience](http://galaxy.phylosbioscience.com/) for Trend #4 image\n \nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/14b42/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/f836f/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg 200w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/2244e/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg 400w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/14b42/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg 800w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/47498/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg 1200w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/0e329/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg 1600w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/808c6/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.jpg 1955w","srcWebp":"/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/58556/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/61e93/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp 200w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/1f5c5/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp 400w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/58556/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp 800w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/99238/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp 1200w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/7c22d/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp 1600w,\n/static/1e823cd798c3e5aded7cdd46f5216b86/3d3a0/6a9d43cb63574ea090a0e84cf0967cf7.webp 1955w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2286-markdown","title":"The Top 5 Health Trends in Cannabis","slug":"the-top-5-health-trends-in-cannabis","content":"The cannabis industry is always changing and at a rapid pace. Because HelloMD sits at the center of a cannabis community, I see the lifecycle of the industry all around me from many different perspectives. New patterns emerge quickly, and this often signals the birth of a new trend.\nIn many ways, this past year has felt like a roller coaster from the rapid sweep of legalization to the changes made by the new Trump administration, and through it all the marijuana industry continues to grow and prosper as anticipated. Based on my observations from the past year, I give you the top five health trends emerging within the cannabis industry today.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\n### Trend: Cannabis Effectively Replaces Opioids for Chronic Pain Management\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58abd12e005f8b00176972fd/embedded_images/58abd131005f8b00176972fe/Screen_Shot_2017-02-20_at_9.04.19_PM.png)\nOpioids are killing 44 Americans a day. \n\nDuring 1990s, the US federal government removed many of the barriers to prescribing opioids for chronic pain. This has been one of the main contributing factors to the opioid epidemic that’s raging across the country and in particular the east coast of the United States. It’s estimated that 44 Americans die every day from opioid overdose.\n\n[A 2014 study](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1898878) indicated that, in states where marijuana is legal, there was a 24.8% lower rate of opioid deaths. In addition, The [National Bureau of Economic Research](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/1898872?resultClick=3&redirect=true) (NBER) mimics these findings and concluded that “broader access to medical marijuana may have the potential benefit of reducing abuse of highly addictive painkillers.\"\n\nHelloMD recently concluded a study with UC Berkeley entitled “Cannabis as a Substitute for Opiate and Non-Opiate Based Pain Medication.” Dr. Perry Solomon, HelloMD’s chief medical officer, says, “The results of this study, which are to be published shortly, show that 97% of respondents indicated that they reduced opioid pain medication when using cannabis.”\n\nWhat’s missing here is widespread acceptance from the medical community and the education of the general public that cannabis is a viable option that can replace opioids.\n\nRELATED: [HELLOMD & UC BERKELEY CONDUCT STUDY ON CANNABIS, PAIN, & OPIOID ABUSE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/57d82d523b39eb000b732ea8/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-to-conduct-largest-study-on-cannabis-pain-and-opioid-abuse)\n\n### Trend: Microdosing Marijuana\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58abd12e005f8b00176972fd/embedded_images/58abd134005f8b0017697300/Screen_Shot_2017-02-20_at_9.07.17_PM.png)[Microdosing](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5874285019303000083745bc/microdosing-the-big-new-trend) is an effective way to consume cannabis without getting high.\n\nA year ago, not many people were talking about microdosing and even fewer products were available to support this method of consumption. Microdosing is the practice of taking smaller, measured amounts of cannabis to produce a particular effect. Microdosing dosages vary from person to person, but a typical microdose might be between 2.5–5 mg of THC and may go as high as 10 mg.\n\nThe benefit of microdosing is the ability to titrate medication in such a way that you might alleviate a condition, such as anxiety or pain, without feeling high. Recent studies indicate that [microdosing may be more beneficial than macrodosing](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3566631/). This is due to the biphasic effect, which means that at lower doses cannabis may be more effective and produce a pleasant experience. At larger doses however, the scale tips and the benefits go away whereby the experience may become negative.\n\nSome of my favorite new microdose products are [Kiva’s Petra Mints (2.5 mg)](https://www.hellomd.com/products/5859dafeeafa6f000868509e/petra-mints-moroccan-mint), [Satori’s Wild Chocolate Strawberries (3 mg)](https://www.hellomd.com/products/586593fb159af1000c6d05fc/wild-strawberries-in-organic-milk-chocolate) and Flora’s Probiotic Dark Mint Chocolates (5 mg).\n\n### Trend: Cannabis Genetics & Synthetics\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58abd12e005f8b00176972fd/embedded_images/58abd132005f8b00176972ff/Screen_Shot_2017-02-20_at_9.12.05_PM.png) \nDNA color sequencing.\n\nPeople are getting serious about understanding the genetic makeup of cannabis and how to bio-engineer synthetic cannabis and cannabinoids from substances other than cannabis itself. Scientists from a variety of life science backgrounds (and large well-funded companies) are jumping into the game to better understand the plant and how to harness its power from many different angles.\n\nOn the genetics side, [Medicinal Genomics (MG)](https://www.medicinalgenomics.com/) is at the forefront using DNA technology to better understand cannabis genetics. MG is initially serving growers, dispensaries and test labs, but they have a much bigger vision in mind.\n\nMG's Chief Scientist Kevin McKernan worked on the Human Genome Project and was the first scientist to sequence the cannabis genome. Regarding the history of the company and why MG is sequencing cannabis, he says:\n\n* “We can now sequence (the DNA) of patients and know exactly what disease a patient has and target it in a very personalized manner. As opposed to a one size fits all medicine system via the FDA…Everyone is different we really need targeted therapies and the ability to read people’s DNA opened this up. Most of these rare diseases that we were running into were endocannabinoid driven and it made us realize we needed an arm that understood the cannabis plants and to bridge the compounds from this plant.\n\n* The wonderful thing about the cannabis plant is that the compounds are safe and has more chemical diversity than all of Pfizer and Merc and is about to be over the counter and open source. If we can combine this with personalized medicine we see these as two economic tsunamis that are colliding that is going to have a real impact within healthcare and DNA sequencing is the thread through the whole story.”\n\nIf that sounds impressive, that's because it is.\n\nThe world of synthetic cannabinoids is also on fire as biotech companies move to make derivatives of cannabis primed for FDA trials—this is becoming very big business. Whether it’s synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), there are many drugs on the market today, like Marinol, helping patients with a variety of conditions.\n\nFor instance, [Kalytera Therapeutics](https://kalytera.co/) makes CBD drugs and formulations that try to overcome limitations in natural CBD such as poor bio availability. Another company, [Zynerba Pharmaceuticals](http://zynerba.com/), creates a synthetic gel and patch that delivers CBD transdermally for adults with refractory epilepsy.\n\nLast, and what I find the most interesting, are an array of companies looking to extract cannabinoids not from cannabis, but from substances such as yeast. The cannabinoids are the same on a molecular level as those derived from cannabis and in theory would be more quickly reproduced and stable than those derived from the cannabis plant.\n\n\n### Trend: The Powerhouse Cannabinoid THCA\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58abd12e005f8b00176972fd/embedded_images/58abd62f005f8b0013ecd76d/Screen_Shot_2017-02-20_at_9.49.01_PM.png)\nTHCA is found in abundance within raw cannabis.\n \nTetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is the star of raw cannabis. Non-psychoactive THCA changes into the more well-known psychoactive compound THC when heated. THCA also happens to hold the most COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition, which allows it to demonstrate immense therapeutic potential as an anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, neuroprotectant, anti-emetic and antispasmodic.\n\nThere are few studies that definitively prove the medicinal benefit of THCA, but those who consume it swear by its efficacy. THCA can be metabolized in much larger quantities than THC and is most often consumed directly from the raw plant. Perhaps this explains why cannabis juicing is gaining in popularity and anecdotally seems to help with neurodegenerative disorders, chronic immune disorders and conditions such as arthritis. THCA is also commonly consumed via [THCA tinctures](https://www.getsava.com/shop/thca-tincture/).\n\n### Trend: The Marijuana Herbal Supplement\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58abd12e005f8b00176972fd/embedded_images/58abd796005f8b0007a9c7e0/Screen_Shot_2017-02-20_at_9.51.24_PM.png)\nSwerve Confections has been ahead of the curve combining herbs and cannabis.\n \nIt used to be that storefront dispensaries made 100% of their sales from raw flower aka “bud.” Now about 50–60% of dispensary sales come from selling flower and the rest comes from the numerous products available on the market: edibles, tinctures, drinks, capsules, vape cartridges and more. In the recent past, when sourcing products other than flower, the ingredient list has been fairly uniform across the board, a percentage or ratio of THC and/or CBD in some sort of carrier liquid. Not anymore.\n\nIn the next year, you’ll start to see the merging of herbal supplements you commonly may see in Whole Foods with your cannabis products. When talking to various brands, it seems that many see this as the obvious evolution to effectively treating a variety of conditions while harnessing and propelling the efficacy and power of the plant itself.\n\nWhat are some examples of combinations you might see? Products that are purported to treat inflammation will incorporate turmeric; products for stress may use the Ayurvedic herb Ashwaganda; and products for insomnia may start mixing in the root of the tall flowering plant called valerian or the calming passionflower. It’s a clear next step in the merging of two separate marketplaces, which in my mind ultimately leads to the rise of the cannabis-based nutraceutical.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/14b42/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/f836f/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.jpg 200w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/2244e/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.jpg 400w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/14b42/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.jpg 800w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/47498/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/54ac5/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/58556/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/61e93/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.webp 200w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/1f5c5/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.webp 400w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/58556/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.webp 800w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/99238/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.webp 1200w,\n/static/0e440bad4d1c2646b7fd304eb6b7aaa1/5e0b8/71d3e33c8c2d27b20becbe3102c41333.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2424-markdown","title":"Top 10 Cannabis Trends for 2017","slug":"top-10-cannabis-trends-for-2017","content":"### 1. Artisanal Products\n\nSmall batch, artisan products have gained traction in the world of craft-beer, so why not the world of cannabis? More cannabis companies are beginning to embrace a farm-to-table approach to curating unique and specialized marijuana products. Small, artisanal producers have gained popularity in some of cannabis’ biggest markets, like California, and their popularity is projected to continue to grow.\n\nFlow Kana, a company out of California’s Mendocino Valley, focuses on sustainable, boutique cannabis strains that are grown in small batches. Flow Kana has relationships with small family farmers that allow them to access high-quality outdoor grown cannabis that is up to their high standards. Flow Kana fits a niche in the cannabis industry, providing specialized strains to dispensaries all across California. \n\nHerba Buena, another artisanal cannabis producer, is known for their specially curated tinctures and products that bring craft-style to functional medicinal cannabis. Herba Buena embraces its Napa location through a winery-like approach to producing unique, sun grown cannabis products. Herba Buena uses organic and biodynamic cannabis when crafting their products. They even embrace wine-like tastings that expose people to the wonders of different cannabis products and strains through the guidance of “sensameliers”. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58756d23772f3e0008ef0ece/embedded_images/58756f01e4f694000c3eb6ea/Screen_Shot_2017-01-10_at_3.31.41_PM.png) \n\nBloom Farms is another medical marijuana company that works with small family farmers in California. They extract their cannabis oil products without any solvents, leaving their products residue free. Lab testing is integral product production and release for both potency and purity, providing patients with small batch, clean products. Bloom Farms is also committed to bettering the world in which they conduct business by being a part of a 1 for 1 program. For every purchase from Bloom Farms, they will donate one meal to someone in need.\n\n### 2. The Industry is Getting Professional\n\nThe cannabis industry is moving out of a grey zone and into the mainstream. Overwhelming nationwide support means that cannabis no longer needs to hide in the shadows. According to the latest Gallup Poll, 87% of Americans support medical cannabis and 60% support recreational cannabis. \n\nSilicon Valley executives are now leaving their tech jobs to join the rapidly growing industry. Mark Williams and Sasha Robinson, the founders of Firefly Vaporizers, both left tech jobs in the Silicon Valley to create one of the most high end vaporizers on the market. This is a trend we expect to see continue, especially as the industry expands into new markets. It is no surprise, however, because the industry is expected to accelerate to a projected $25 billion in the coming years. \n\n### 3. Big Pharma & Synthetic Cannabinoids\n\nCannabinoids are continuing to gain traction as viable medicinal products, particularly in the wake of the opioid epidemic sweeping the country.  As more people are becoming addicted to legal opioids, there is a constant search for pain relieving alternatives without the highly addictive qualities of opioids. There are a few synthetic cannabinoids currently on the market, mostly targeted towards patients with conditions like cancer. Synthetic cannabinoids, however, are becoming more attractive to people, especially after the DEA’s recent clarification that even hemp based cannabinoids are considered a Schedule 1 substance. Fear over possible legal repercussions will cause people to seek out synthetics, pushing the industry to expand. \n\n### 4. Sports Will Green Light Marijuana Use\n\nMany athletes have become advocates for marijuana use to help recover from sports related chronic pain and injuries. From UFC fighters like Ronda Rousey to football players like Ricky Williams, professional athletes have become advocates for stopping marijuana testing and allowing players to use cannabis as a medication. Rousey made comments at a press conference after the suspension of MMA fighter Nick Diaz for marijuana use, saying that marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug and it is only tested for political reasons. Williams, who also experienced a series of suspensions and repercussions from his cannabis use while in the NFL, has now become an advocate for marijuana use in the world of professional sports. The former Heisman Trophy winner and All-American has even founded a cannabis-friendly gym that allows people to incorporate cannabis into their workout regime. \n\nRousey and Williams are just two of the many athletes calling for a change. All major sports leagues in the United States, except for the NHL, ban the use of marijuana by their players, but they allow for the use of harmful substances like opioids. The opioid epidemic is one of the many reasons some players are hoping that marijuana will become allowed for players in states where it is medically legal. Many athletes, who often get injured due to the nature of their job, find themselves being prescribed opioids for everything from invasive surgeries to shoulder pain. Many players think that marijuana is the most viable alternative to addictive opioids and that if they live in states that approve of medical marijuana, they should be able to access it as a medication without repercussions.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58756d23772f3e0008ef0ece/embedded_images/58756d28772f3e0008ef0ed0/Screen_Shot_2017-01-10_at_3.23.16_PM.png)\n\n### 5. Luxury Cannabis Products\n\nLuxury cannabis products that give cannabis users an experience, rather than just a dose of marijuana, are becoming increasingly popular in the industry. Madame Munchie is a company that makes traditional macarons complete with a 20 mg dose of THC. The gourmet french pastries have won a variety of awards, including San Fransisco patients’ choice, High Times best edible, and HempCon’s best desert. The variety of flavors, including Hazelnut Mocha and Grilled PB+J, are made to be savored and enjoyed in one sitting. Unlike the high dosage of some cannabis edibles, Madame Munchie makes their products to be enjoyed completely rather than being split apart to be consumed. \n\nDéfoncé Chocolates makes luxury chocolate bars that happen to be medicated with high quality cannabis. Défoncé is a company run by two chocolatiers who have used their chocolate making skills to craft chocolate bars infused with single-origin, sun grown cannabis. The chocolate bars come in almost every flavor imaginable including vanilla, matcha, milk, coffee, mint, dark, hazelnut, and extra dark. Each bar comes with 180mg of THC. \n\nKikoko Teas, which are currently only available for pre-order, are specialized cannabis teas in a variety of flavors, each one with a different purpose. The teas were created by two incredibly accomplished women who designed their teas as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical medications. The teas come in four different flavors: positivi-tea (for mood enhancement), sensuali-tea (for libido), sympa-tea (for pain), and tranquili-tea (for sleep). Kikoko Teas is also a company with a cause, donating 5% of their profits to providing cannabis medication to children with seizure disorders.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\n### 6. Microdosing-Friendly Products\n\nMicrodosing is a great way to achieve many of the benefits of medicinal cannabis without the high that marijuana is known for. Microdosing can help people manage their symptoms throughout the day without any unwanted side effects. Microdosing friendly products are now becoming more popular as more people begin to embrace the low dose practice. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58756d23772f3e0008ef0ece/embedded_images/58756e1d772f3e000cd4074f/Screen_Shot_2017-01-10_at_3.26.35_PM.png)\n \nKiva Confections, who is well known for their product that are great for microdosing, has come out with a line of mints. Each Petra mint has 2.5mg of THC and they come in two different flavors, Moroccan Mint and Eucalyptus. Both flavors of mints are infused with matcha and are sugar free, making them a great choice for micro dosing on the go without an increased sugar intake. \n\nSatori chocolate bites are also giving patients the ability to deliciously dose small amounts of cannabis throughout the day. Satori chocolate bites come in a variety of different flavors and different doses. Satori’s coffee beans in dark chocolate and high bush blueberries in milk chocolate each have 2 mg of THC per piece, while their raisins in organic milk chocolate come in at 1 mg per piece. They also have wild strawberries in organic milk chocolate that have 3 mg of THC per piece. Their dark chocolate products are made with Fino de Aroma, some of the most sought after cocoa beans in the world, while their milk chocolate is sourced from THCO, an award winning and sustainable chocolate company. Satori infuses their products with sun grown cannabis oil that is created by AbsoluteXtracts. \n\nCannaAthlete, is a new brand to the market and is backed by two industry veterans Jim McAlpine of 420 Games and Seibo Shen of VapeExhale. Deep ties into the athletic community led them to the development of their micro dose product called Activation Spray which may be self titrated at 1mg a spray. They seek to elevate rather than obliterate.\n\n### 7. Cannabis Tastings\n\nCannabis tastings are becoming more popular as more states are legalizing both medical and recreational cannabis. Cannabis tastings are associated with the artisan cannabis movement. People are beginning paying attention to the quality and intricacies of different cannabis products. Herba Buena’s social club is a member only group that organizes wine-like cannabis tastings. The cannabis tastings are very educational and they provide patients with explanations of different products available and what their purpose is.\n\nHerba Buena’s social club currently requires a membership and a medical marijuana card, but the world of cannabis tasting is soon to expand to a wider clientele in California since the recreational marijuana legalization bill passed in the most recent voting cycle. Cannabis tastings have become popular in Colorado, where cannabis is often paired with food and wine for a fully immersive experience. Pairing cannabis strains with meals, much like wine, is the cutting edge of the recreational marijuana industry. Colorado is planning to increasingly capitalize on this trend too, as Denver recently legalized Amsterdam style cannabis cafes. \n\n### 8. Intriguing and Interesting Product Design\n\nMany of the products in the cannabis industry were built with utility in mind, but tides are turning as style is becoming increasingly incorporated into a variety of products. The recent swing towards design focused products include the sleek and practical Hmbldt vaporizer pen that was named one of the 25 best inventions of 2016 by Time magazine. The modern and minimalist styled vape pen dispenses a specified dose of cannabis oil, specifically with a medical necessity in mind. The pens include relief, sleep, bliss, and calm, each made to target a specific symptom or medical condition. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58756d23772f3e0008ef0ece/embedded_images/58756e20772f3e000cd40750/Screen_Shot_2017-01-10_at_3.27.29_PM.png)\n \nThe world of marijuana glassware is getting an update as well. Jane West, a leading cannabis activist and founder of Women Grow, has recently raised $1 million in capital for a new [glassware](https://cannabisnow.com/jane-west-raises-1m-capital-launches-modern-glassware-collection/) collection. West has collaborated with Grav Labs, an Austin based company that is known for their production of high quality glassware, on the venture. The collection includes 5 glass pieces so far, each in a stunning cobalt blue color with unique shapes curated with ergonomics in mind. \n\n### 9. More Marijuana on TV\n\nAside from cannabis guest starring more often on television shows as a casual or medicinal product, rather than a taboo, marijuana based television shows are starting to go more mainstream. High Maintenance, which started as a web series before making it to the small screen, follows the life of an unnamed pot delivery man. MTV’s new show “Mary + Jane” stars two women as “pot-reprenuers” who created a cannabis delivery app and follows their life in the industry. Sony Pictures recently booked John Malkovich to star in a new drama called “Humboldt”, which is about the marijuana industry that has flourished in the town. Even Netflix has jumped on the cannabis train, recently ordering a new series for 2017 called “Disjointed” starring Kathy Bates. \n\n### 10. Athleticism and Cannabis\n\nCannabis has gained traction in the athletic world, not only as a way to recovery after injuries, but also as a way to enhance athletic prowess. One Colorado triathlete and gym owner, who was interviewed by Men’s Journal, claimed that he trains with better form and focus when he enters a controlled meditative state caused by marijuana edibles. \n\nAn Outside Magazine [correspondent](http://www.businessinsider.com/how-marijuana-affects-working-out-2015-1), named Gordy Megroz, also got interested in cannabis’s relationship with sport through many of his friends who claimed it helped their skiing performance. Megroz conducted a series of test that compared his performance when he had taken cannabis and when he had not. In a series of tests he conducted on a treadmill, which was set at 5 mph with a 2.5% increase in incline every two minutes, he found that he could consistently last 30 seconds longer when he had consumed cannabis. \n\nMany pro-athletes who advocate for cannabis also thinks it helps their performance by assisting them in recovery and getting them back on the field faster than traditional pharmaceuticals, especially when they are rehabbing from injuries. Cannabis and athleticism is an topic which will be explored more in the coming year as more people have access to cannabis as a medical and recreational product.\n\n_______________________________________________________________________\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3245033112582782,"src":"/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/14b42/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/f836f/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.jpg 200w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/2244e/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.jpg 400w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/14b42/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.jpg 800w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/47498/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.jpg 1200w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/92af3/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.jpg 1359w","srcWebp":"/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/58556/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/61e93/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.webp 200w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/1f5c5/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.webp 400w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/58556/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.webp 800w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/99238/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.webp 1200w,\n/static/9d44ebb41cc7df868f42ea3e63930f92/52030/2f8685b39d4cce4e49ab83fc150da254.webp 1359w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5859,"name":"Trends","slug":"trends","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}