The holiday season is fast approaching, bringing with it opportunities for eating, drinking, and making merry, not to mention gift-giving. Though the pandemic may put a bit of a damper on get-togethers, food and gift-giving undoubtedly will remain important.
With the right product mix, cannabis retailers can cater to both holiday traditions while they help their customers deal with the double-whammy of holiday- and pandemic-induced stress.
What will consumers seek this year? According to BDSA’s Consumer Insights, edibles will be at the top of a good many lists—for recreation, medication, entertaining, and gifting. Infused chocolate is a perennial favorite, and BDSA data indicate gummy candy and baked goods are popular as well, possibly because they resemble familiar non-infused treats. Sixty percent of edibles consumers report consuming gummies and 46 percent report consuming baked goods.
“Other ingestible products offering familiar form factors are becoming increasingly more common and popular,” a recent BDSA report revealed, noting 8 percent of survey respondents reported consuming chewing gum (up from 5 percent in 2018), and 5 percent reported consuming powdered drink mixes (up from 2 percent). Sparkling and carbonated waters also are growing in popularity, with respondent interest increasing from 3 percent to 5 percent over the past eighteen months.
With the data in mind, we’ve put together a holiday stocking guide to help retailers add sparkle to their shelves and profits to their balance sheets.
AbsoluteXtracts Gummies
Vegan and gluten-free, AbsoluteXtracts gummies combine all-natural ingredients and high-potency, sun-grown cannabis oil. Available in four flavors: Chili Lime Piña (combining sun-ripened pineapple, spicy jalapeño, and lime), mixed berry (notes of wild blackberries, ripe blueberries, and fresh raspberries), strawberry, and key lime. 5mg THC per piece; twenty pieces per pack. California only. ABX.org
Artet Aperitif
Inspired by fine French and Italian liqueurs, Artet is among the first non-alcoholic aperitifs infused with cannabis. Artet’s flavor profile blends floral, herb, and spice notes and may be consumed “straight up” or in a mixed drink. Each serving contains a microdose of 2.5mg THC; each bottle contains 750ml of beverage. California only. Artet.com
Bhang Chocolates
Bhang’s chocolate is a perennial consumer favorite, but the company’s recently redesigned packaging will attract renewed attention. With vegan options in both milk and dark chocolate, each bar is crafted with sustainably sourced cacao in flavors including caramel, cookies and cream, peppermint, espresso, toffee, and several fruits. Available in California, Nevada, Illinois, and New Mexico. 100mg bar; 10mg per serving. BhangNation.com
Bluebird Botanicals CBD Isolate
Manufactured according to the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), Bluebird Botanicals’ CBD isolate is 96 percent to 99.9 percent pure, according to third-party lab tests. The odorless, flavorless clear crystals are derived from organic hemp sustainably grown in the United States. Lab-verified potency and terpene profile; free of residual solvents, microbes, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and fertilizer residue. 1,000mg CBD per gram. BluebirdBotanicals.com
Care By Design Gummies
Crafted from CBD-rich cannabis in three slow-release CBD-to-THC ratios: 1:1, 4:1, and 18:1. The all-natural fruit flavors—raspberry, lemon, and mixed berry—are vegan and gluten-free. Twenty pieces are packaged in each 3.2-ounce container. Available in California and Colorado. CBD.org
Coda Signature Fruit Notes
Coda Signature’s Fruit Notes are a culinary-inspired take on infused gummies. Made with all-natural ingredients including fruits and a sugar blend of whole spices and aromatics, each square has an intensity of flavor to stand alone but also may be paired with other foods to harmonize as part of a larger composition. 5mg THC per piece; Colorado only. CodaSignature.com
Diesel Hemp Full Spectrum Crumble
Diesel Hemp’s crumble (aka wax) is made in-house. Derived from cultivar-specific hemp flower, the product exhibits a full-spectrum terpene profile without any additional processing or refining of the oil. No synthetic terpenes or other additives are incorporated. Available in one-gram jars of Abacus Diesel, Cherry Abacus, and Spec7. DieselHemp.com
Favour Chewing Gum
Three women teamed up to create Favour using a CO2 extraction process and American-grown hemp. The gum delivers effects up to five times faster than pills or liquids and is easy to transport and use discreetly. Favour is sugar-, allergen-, and gluten-free; non-GMO; and kosher. 10mg CBD per piece; 8 pieces per pack. FavourGum.com
Goodekind Notorious Crumble
For dabbing or as a bowl topper, Notorious Crumble induces euphoria uncommon in hemp products. The crumble has a pungent, potent aroma and flavor: Notes of clove and black pepper give way to eucalyptus, ginseng, and ginger. Each gram tests at 82 percent CBGa. An eighth of the company’s profits fund human rights initiatives in the U.S. Goodekind.com
House of Saka Vinfusions
Saka’s vintners blend Napa Valley appellation and varietal-specific grapes with a proprietary formulation of tasteless, odorless, water-soluble THC and CBD derived from California craft cannabis to create Vinfusions. Available in White (chardonnay) and Pink (pinot noir), each five-ounce serving contains 6mg THC, 1mg CBD, and fewer than sixteen calories. Five servings per bottle; California only. HouseOfSaka.com
incredibles Gummies
Making and breaking flavor rules since 2010, incredibles continues to employ strict quality and production standards in producing its unusual flavor combinations. A new look complements a new formulation that makes the all-natural gummies fruitier and juicier. Flavors include Strahhhberry, Greener Apple, Summer Peach, Mon Chérry, and Watermelon Smash. 100mg THC per 1.06-ounce package. Available in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Puerto Rico. ILoveIncredibles.com
Lowell Herb Co. Old Fashioned THC Mints
Lowell’s first edibles deliver a 2.5mg dose of THC and five calories per piece, allowing both seasoned and new cannabis users to enjoy the experience they prefer. Craftsmen press each mint by hand using all-natural, non-GMO, fair trade, vegan ingredients, giving each piece a natural tan color and rough edge. Forty mints per tin; California only. LowellFarms.com
Molly Jones Gumdrops
Luxury infused confections company Molly Jones offers quality and authenticity in its small-batch, handcrafted gumdrops. Packaged in an elegant candy box, each confection is made from simple ingredients by a local chef to ensure consistency. Available in three- and nine-piece packs in flavors including berry, lemon lavender, and plum cardamom; 25mg or 50mg CBD per gumdrop. MollyJones.com
Mondo Meds Powder
A nearly tasteless cannabis-infused powder derived from cacao butter and coconut oil, Mondo’s THC and CBD formulas easily dissolve in food and beverages and may be used in cooking and baking. Both contain full-spectrum extract; the CBD product adds theanine for pain relief and mood elevation. Both are sugar- and gluten-free. 100mg THC or 150mg CBD per jar. THC product available only in California. MondoMeds.com
NectarBee Gummies
The Green Solution’s house brand, NectarBee, has a new addition: sour and super-sour gummies. Made with natural flavors, dipped in sour powder, and infused with hash oil, the confections are available in a variety of flavors including lemon lime CBD, cherry lime sativa, watermelon indica, and super-sour green apple hybrid. 10mg THC per gummy; eight gummies per package. Colorado only. TGSColorado.com
Nové Luxury Chocolates
From the creators of incredibles, Nové luxury chocolates are handcrafted with single-source South American cacao. Each bar and truffle is filled with a soft center of fruit, caramel, coconut crème, or salted nut butter. The bars come in six flavors: Island Coconut, Sea Salt Caramel, Raspberry Bramble, Café Cappuccino, Honey Roasted Peanut Butter, and Evergreen Mint. Ten servings per bar: recreational 10mg per serving; medical 100mg per serving. Colorado only. NoveIsLuxury.com
The Original Hemptown Chew
Hemptown’s sugar-, gluten-, and calorie-free chewing gum delivers 15mg CBD and 5mg CBG per piece. The mint-flavored gum is available in packages containing two, six, or twelve tablets crafted from natural ingredients including hemp raised on a 600-acre Oregon farm. Suggested dose: one to two pieces. HemptownUSA.com
PHYX Sparkling Water
An all-natural, THC-infused sparkling water with zero cannabis taste or smell, PHYX employs nano-encapsulation absorption technology to give consumers a buzz in about ten minutes with no calories, sugars, or carbohydrates. May be consumed alone or used to create mocktails. Flavors for the 1:1 THC:CBD variety include dragon fruit, grapefruit, lime, and natural; a 10mg THC-only variety is available in dragon fruit. Colorado only. GetMyPHYX.com
PLUS Sleep Gummies
Combining THC, CBN, CBD, and a touch of melatonin, PLUS Sleep gummies are formulated with all-natural flavors and colors. Cloudberry contains 5mg THC, 1mg CBN, and 1mg CBD; CBNRelief, in lychee flavor, contains 1mg THC, 2mg CBN, and 3mg CBD. Five calories and 0.7 grams of sugar per serving; twenty servings per tin. Available in California and Nevada. PlusProductsTHC.com
Rebel Coast Beverages
Lacking alcohol but infused with cannabis, Rebel Coast’s Sauvage (sauvignon blanc) and Pink Passion (rosé) provide rapid onset of effects, often within ten minutes. According to the company, each version reliably imitates the flavor of the corresponding wine and carries no cannabis aftertaste. Available in bottles and cans; 10mg THC per twelve ounces. California only. RebelCoast.com
Rhythm Seltzer
Crafted by a musician turned sommelier and a professional chef, Rhythm seltzers are infused with 15mg CBD using Vertosa’s emulsion technology to customize dosage, onset time, taste, and color. Available in Awake (grapefruit, rosemary, and 50mg caffeine) and Dream (blackberry, lavender, and 5mg melatonin), the beverages are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and keto-friendly. Five calories per serving; no artificial sweeteners. DrinkRhythm.com
Satori Microdose Mints
Satori’s new micro-dosed mints are made for sublingual absorption, allowing the THC to take effect faster than with traditional edibles, which must be fully digested before effects are felt. With only 2mg THC per mint, they’re an easy way to medicate and freshen breath at the same time. Fifty mints per package. Natural flavor; sweetened with xylitol. California only. SatoriChocolates.com
Select Elite Live Resin
Infusing Select’s signature Elite oil with live-resin, high-terpene extract from fresh-frozen, strain-specific flower results in a diverse array of compounds providing enhanced flavor and the entourage effect. The new product displays a typical potency of 70 percent to 85 percent THC. Available in 0.5g and 1g cartridges in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Oklahoma, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, and Oregon. SelectCannabis.com
Space Gem SpaceDrops
Space Gem’s handcrafted gummies, available in sour and sweet varieties, are made in small batches and infused with single-source ice water hash. Organic, vegan, and flavored with real fruits, each gummy contains 10mg THC and other cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBC) for a full-spectrum effect. Available in packages of one, four, and ten; California only. SpaceGemCandy.com
Stoner Badder
Flow Distro’s house brand is designed for those who seek quality at a value price. Each batch of badder has its own personality, ranging from wet to honey crystals. Regardless its form, every batch is made from fresh-frozen trim, offering great nose and a punchy high. Available in one-gram jars in California. FlowDistro.com
Sugarhigh Chocolates
Each Sugarhigh edible is individually wrapped for easy enjoyment on the go. Available in packages of two or ten, each piece of Mint Chocolate Crunch, Cookie Cream Crunch, Mocha Chocolate Crunch, Milk Chocolate, and Chocolate Covered Caramel contains 10mg THC. The brand also offers gummies in a variety pack containing strawberry, peach, and watermelon flavors. Colorado only. Sugarhigh.co