FAQs

Convenience stores are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the cannabidiol (CBD) market. C-stores already carry most of the product categories that now feature CBD-infused options, and they’re already a one-stop shop for customers fueling up or buying cigarettes and energy drinks. Still, CBD sales have faced challenges in the past year at convenience stores. At…

When people talk about cannabis, they’re usually referring to what’s also called weed or marijuana, which come from a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant that contains more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects that make one feel high. But hemp also comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp is…

Both CBD soft gels and oil are popular forms with different benefits, and each may serve a different consumer best. Customers interested in cannabidiol (CBD) can select a number of different forms, from gummies to soft gels to tinctures to oils. New CBD customers often have questions about what form is right for them. Today…

  With the U.S. Food & Drug Administration avoiding the regulation of CBD-hemp products, the role of independent, third-party laboratories in verifying the content of those products is especially important. Consumers will want to have confidence in a CBD product before purchasing and using it. In any relatively new industry, providers must overcome consumer doubt.…

Cannabidiol (CBD) gummies and soft chews share more in common than they differ. Both resemble edible candies containing CBD that come in a wide variety of flavors, shapes and sizes. And because gummies and soft chews mimic candy, that makes either a good entry product for new CBD consumers. Soft chews are similar to gummies…

Bipartisan House lawmakers recently introduced a bill to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop regulations for food and beverages containing hemp-derived CBD and allow for their interstate commerce. The CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act would require the FDA to develop rules and hold a public comment period on the maximum amount…

According to market research firm Brightfield Group, consumers are looking to CBD drinks for numerous reasons or occasions, from functional and fun beverages for wellness and as alcohol substitutes. “With so many existing occasions and reasons to enjoy a drink, CBD beverage companies need to get creative and specific with their positionings,” said Brightfield Group’s…

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that cannabidiol (CBD) can lessen the psychoactive effects of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) when taken together.  The goal of the study — by researchers Jose’ Bouso, PhD from the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service, and Alberto Sainz-Cort, MSc from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya…

The marketplace for cannabis-derived products continues to grow. First came cannabidiol (CBD) oils, topicals and edibles, which quickly developed into a high-demand category. Now, manufacturers are introducing minor, or entourage, cannabinoid compounds that purport to elicit many similar beneficial effects as CBDs. The two substances gaining attention right now are cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN),…

When Americans are asking questions about products they are considering buying at retail, c-store retailers need to have the answers. And one question that is often asked is: Are CBD gummies more effective than CBD oil? First, some definitions are in order. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil or tinctures contain a variety of CBD extract, and are…

Preliminary results from a new study on the effects of CBD oil on golf players have shown positive effects on injury, sleep and on-course golf performance. The study, a joint operation with quantitative insight produced by a sport specialist market research consultancy Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) supported by shot tracking data from Shot Scope, combines interviews…

The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp products from the controlled substances list, thereby clearing the path for convenience stores and other retailers to begin selling hemp-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD). In 2021, industry analytics valued the CBD sector at approximately $35 billion and growing at more than 8.0%. But what makes this…

A lot of Americans still aren’t sure exactly what CBD is or what it can do for them. Worse, a lot of convenience store operators still aren’t sure who their CBD customers are – the very first thing they need to know in order to capitalize on the trend. So – who is buying CBD…

According to a CivicScience study of more than 40,000 of-age Americans (21 and older), 34% of respondents said they have had some experience with various CBD products, and 15% intend to give them a try soon, totaling nearly half of the of-age general population. So, what is driving CBD sales and overall interest? As the…

As market demand for cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp-related products grows, retailers will have to respond by offering more options for consumers. But choosing a CBD vendor can be more challenging than those for typical food, beverage and topical products retailers are used to – for many, CBD products are uncharted territory. There are ways for…

Delta-8 only recently arrived on the mainstream radar. However, it was actually discovered back in 1965 by cannabis researcher Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. Scientists and researchers have been uncovering benefits ever since. While everyone may experience Delta-8 differently, some report feeling a high similar to Delta-9 THC — with a few key differences, reports ACS Laboratory:…

  Factors that often go into a consumer’s decision on which type of CBD product to buy include format, brand, dosage strength and the type of CBD (full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate). According to market research firm Brightfield Group’s CBD consumer insights, full-spectrum is the preferred type of CBD for 54% of CBD consumers.…

When reviewing cannabidiol (CBD) and other hemp-based products, retailers will run across manufacturers mentioning an item’s certificate of analysis (COA). They should ignore that at their peril. The COA is an important element to assuring that a CBD vendor’s product is the real deal. The COA isn’t unique to the CBD industry. It is common…

Delta-8 is a variant of the delta-9-THC cannabinoid. Though still considered to be psychoactive, delta-8 is less potent than delta-9, according to market research firm Brightfield Group. However, effects may vary for each person as well as how it’s administered. Because it is mainly derived from hemp CBD — which is federally legal — delta-8…

Cannabis ingestibles are products that come in an oil or tincture form that are administered under the tongue or added to foods or beverages. The cannabinoids are absorbed – or ingested – through the thin tissue in the mouth or the stomach and other organs. Ingesting oils and tinctures is a much more efficient method…

According to market research firm Brightfield Group, millennials and Gen Xers account for over two-thirds (71%) of CBD users, though millennials take more doses per day than Gen Xers. Brightfield Group also found that both generations are more informed about the CBD dose they take — especially when compared to Baby Boomers. Knowledge and preference…

The 2018 Farm Bill did a lot more for convenience stores than just fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as usual. It opened the door for retailers to capitalize on the burgeoning cannabidiol (CBD) market. Now, CBDs represent one of the fastest-growing categories, and more and more businesses are stepping into the marketplace. Cannabidiol…

With CBD’s popularity growing by leaps and bounds, it is important for convenience store operators to know that the information on the labels of the edible products they are selling may not be accurate. According to research by the Washington, D.C.-based CBD & Cannabinoid Industry Association (CBDIA), most edible CBD products — an expansive product…

By now, you may have heard of delta-8, a relatively new cannabinoid that popped up in late 2020. Delta-8 was legalized in most states thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which effectively modified the definition of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) to exclude THCs in hemp from the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). Any derivative, isomer or cannabinoid of…

There are three different types of topicals – lotions, creams and salves. Typically, topicals are a mixture of an emulsifier, such as beeswax, with water and oil. For CBD topicals, the CBD extract is added to the oil. What makes each type different from the others is its water content in comparison to oil. Salves…