Latest cannabis predictions for 2022

Of course, 2021 was a great year for the industry, with continued legalization around the world, including places like Malta and Thailand. There’s more to come in 2022, and some cannabis predictions for exciting new trends and opportunities lie ahead.

legalization

It’s no secret that the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis is going well. With an increased focus on cannabis decriminalization and criminal records removal for non-violent cannabis offences. But the move to legalize it federally might be a slow one. Even with legalization, the varying state-to-state regulations for everything from growing standards to packaging and transportation will make marketing nationwide a difficult proposition for most cannabis companies.

The companies that will grow and thrive will be the ones that capitalize on trends and opportunities that are emerging for 2022 and beyond.

Integrated technology

Cannabis is now more mainstream than ever. The medicinal use of cannabis in relation to stress relief, mental health, etc. has created markets that might otherwise have looked to more traditional pharmaceutical options. This only applies until 2022.

There is an interesting segment of this new mainstream market that is interested in the therapeutic effects of cannabis but not in the traditional method of consumption of smoking. The desire to avoid traditional smoking methods will increasingly make organic, ethically sourced and engineered cannabis products the norm.

Technological advances will continue to improve, from vapes that developers can routinely update to QR codes on product packaging, cannabis technology will continue to get smarter and more innovative, on par with all other smart home devices.

Photo by Lucas Vasques on Unsplash

Products

Cannabis drinks: Expect canna drinks to explode in the next year. Innovative technologies in the cannabis industry continue to improve emulsion techniques and nanotechnology. With more and more people looking for non-alcoholic alternatives, this is a great alternative that fills that gap as a lower-calorie, non-hangover-causing option.

Photo by Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash

Consumption lounges: One of the most exciting cannabis trends of 2022 is the rise in the number of consumption lounges and, as a direct result, the growing profile of cannabis in the tourism sector. Nevada has passed legislation allowing adults to eat or smoke cannabis in consumption lounges, becoming the eighth state to legalize pot lounges. In mid-2022 we can expect the opening of the first consumption lounges in Vegas.

While consumption lounges tend to be rarities and typically slow to open, they will set the stage for breaking some of the barriers the industry is facing today.

investments/stocks

The past year has seen strong tailwinds as there has been increased talk of federal legalization, more states legalizing adult use, and increased revenue for operators in several states along with smaller cannabis companies. Strong headwinds included suppressed talk of federal legalization and stalled banking reform for the industry in Congress. Cannabis sales are forecast to only skyrocket, so take that with a grain of salt. In fact, cannabis flower accounts for more than 45% of total cannabis product market sales, and that’s great news for cannabis investors.

Photo by Tech Daily on Unsplash

The future of cannabis in 2022 looks bright and we will continue to sit on the sidelines awaiting further advances in the cannabis industry wherever they may take place. What are some of your predictions for next year? Let us know in the comments and follow us on @CannaLifeNet