Flowers may be king in the dispensary, but cannabis vapes are becoming a dominant force just behind the buds

Vaping cannabis has become a popular method of consumption for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Despite the challenging economic landscape, the cannabis market has seen a surge in sales, with vape pens contributing significantly to that growth.

Vape pens have shown remarkable resilience in the cannabis market, and this trend is expected to continue as a new generation of buyers enter the market. Thanks to their ease of use, vape pens have taken over pharmacy shelves and overtaken other cannabis products. This surge in demand may be related to several factors, including convenience and accessibility, making them a top choice for cannabis enthusiasts.

Cannabis Vaping Product

Vaporizers come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. In general, they are classified into two types:

1. Dab pens

Dab pens, also known as budder, honeycomb, or shatter pens, are specifically designed for use with dab cannabis concentrates. Typically no larger than a highlighter, these pens are popular with cannabis enthusiasts for their compact size and ease of use.

2. Evaporator

Conversely, vaporizers come in a variety of sizes, from large tank-style devices to small flash drive-like designs. They are versatile devices that can be used with cannabis concentrates, dried flower and liquid forms of cannabis. Their diverse range of sizes and capabilities make them a popular choice for cannabis users looking for a customizable vaping experience.

Vapes were ranked as the second most popular category, right behind cannabis flowers.

Vaporizing cannabis with vape pens is gaining popularity in the industry due to its convenience, ease of use, and discretion. In fact, a report by Headset revealed that vape pens are one of the most in-demand product categories, with sales steadily increasing over the years.

In 2022, vape pens accounted for 23.6% of total sales, making it the second most popular category next to flowers, which dominated at 40.5%. Prerolls followed with 12.3%.

Illinois had the largest vape market share in the US with 27.4% of total sales in 2022. California and Florida were close behind at 25% and 25.4%, respectively. That’s not all, states with the smallest presence of e-cigarettes, such as Michigan, Oregon and Massachusetts, still had a significant share of total sales.

Cartridges are the most popular product type, although disposables are growing in popularity as recreational programs open and casual consumers seek convenience. Live rosin vaporizations are also on the rise as dispensaries promote solvent-free cannabis products made through a solvent-free process.

Although emerging markets in the US and Canada are growing steadily, some legacy states have slowed down due to market saturation and increasing competition from other cannabis products like edibles and tinctures. Nonetheless, pre-rolls are still on the rise as consumers prefer the convenience of floral rolled and ready to smoke.

Vape pens aren’t exempt from price compression, and consumers typically pay $25 to $50 for half-gram and full-gram cartridges unless they’re buying in an emerging, higher-priced rec market like New Jersey. While this is good news for consumers in times of inflation, companies may see their margins shrink.

Increase in demand for cannabis concentrate

The increase in demand for cannabis concentrates is a major factor driving the growth of the cannabis vape market. These highly potent forms of cannabis can be vaporized with a pen and deliver a more intense and longer-lasting high than traditional cannabis flower.

Despite the appeal of vape pens, concerns have arisen about their safety. In 2019, cases of lung disease linked to vapes containing vitamin E acetate caused a temporary drop in sales as consumers became more cautious.

To address these issues, many legal cannabis markets have introduced stricter regulations for vapor pen products, such as: B. California’s stringent tests for pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides. Some states have even banned certain additives in vape products altogether.

Despite these challenges, Headset predicts that vape sales will continue to grow thanks to increasing legalization and new product innovations driving growth in the industry, however, the market is likely to face competition and regulatory changes.

Nonetheless, vape pens have proven to be a resilient product category, and the report predicts they will continue to grow as a younger generation of consumers enter the market.

Health effects of vaping cannabis

In terms of the public health impact of vaping cannabis, the most important consideration is its potential to increase the frequency of cannabis use. This increased use of cannabis can lead to a variety of harmful effects, including traffic accidents, cannabis addiction, and adverse psychosocial consequences for users.

While medical research suggests that vaporized cannabis produces fewer harmful chemicals than smoking, it still risks physical and mental well-being when consumed in concentrated form with dab or vape pens. Such methods of consumption can lead to undesirable consequences, including Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) and paranoia.

Additionally, the effects of smoking versus vaping cannabis on lung health are still largely unknown. Multiple vaping instruments can be used with processed and unprocessed bud, which may contain harmful chemicals. It is important to note that while vaping cannabis is considered a safer alternative to smoking, it is not entirely risk free and can still affect a person’s health and well-being.

Therefore, it is crucial to promote responsible consumption and educate about the potential risks of vaping cannabis. It is also important to ensure cannabis products are accurately labeled and regulated to minimize the potential harms associated with their use. Only through responsible use and effective regulation can we ensure that the public health impact of vaping cannabis is minimised.

Diploma

The cannabis industry is growing rapidly, with the vape market contributing significantly to this growth. The convenience, ease of use, and discretion of vape pens make them popular with cannabis users, particularly those who prefer concentrates. However, safety concerns have arisen regarding vape pens, and many legal markets have introduced stricter regulations to address these concerns.

Despite these challenges, the cannabis vape market is expected to grow with new product innovations and increasing legalization. As the industry continues to evolve and mature, it will be interesting to see how regulatory changes and competition will shape the future of the cannabis vape market and industry.

VAPE CANNABIS AND FLOWERS, READ MORE…

SMOKING FLOWER VS. VAPORATING WEED OIL, WHAT’S THE BEST?