Marlboro-Maker Altria Tinkers With Cannabis Flavors

Tobacco giant Altria continues to carve out its place in the cannabis industry.

While the company has for years filed patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to vaporizer technology, including several that mention cannabis as well as tobacco, three related applications published on August 4 focus explicitly on the cannabis plant. More specifically, on its “flavor and aroma characteristics.”

Curaleaf Launches Plant Precision, New Product Line Targeting Specific Health and Wellness Categories

Plant Precision fills consumer demand for low dose THC formats that are geared towards everyday wellness as 75% of Americans would consider using cannabis for health and wellness purposes*

According to a Curaleaf / Harris Poll survey, 69% of Americans say they would be more likely to use cannabis as a health solution if it came in small, controlled doses*. Curaleaf recognized this need and created an approachable line for the newer wellness-oriented consumer featuring gummy edibles offering low, customizable doses of THC and high doses of non-psychoactive therapeutic minor cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBN and THCV, and a quickly absorbent THC topical gel.

NuLeaf Naturals Reduces Prices To Increase Accessibility to High-Quality CBD

Many supplement brands are increasing their prices with rising inflation rates, but NuLeaf Naturals – the nation’s leading CBD and wellness company – is reducing prices by an average of 38%. The move is to increase access to top-quality CBD, providing the highest quality products at the best possible prices.

“Price shouldn’t stand in the way of wellness. NuLeaf Naturals has been a leader in the CBD space for almost a decade now, and with this comes a great responsibility,” said NuLeaf Naturals’ CEO Ian Kelly. “As our category continues to grow and more companies and brands join the fold, we welcome the competition, but more importantly, we want CBD buyers to be aware of what they could inadvertently be consuming. Several of these brands are trying to lure consumers with low prices attached to low-quality products.”

Southern Glazer’s becomes exclusive distribution partner for Tilray

A prominent American alcohol distributor with a long history dating back to the early 1900s will now be assisting a cannabis conglomerate with its CBD beverage distribution endeavours.

On Wednesday, Tilray Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY) announced that its Fresh Hemp Foods, Ltd. division had signed a distribution contract with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

Tilray states that the new agreement will provide the company with direct access to Southern Glazer’s distribution network capable of reaching a broad range of consumers.

NBA Players Union to Partner with CBD Line

The National Basketball Association Players Association (NBPA) recently announced they’ve taken a step beyond simply endorsing the use of CBD for health and wellness. The organization has partnered with Re+Play, a company owned by former NBA player Al Harrington, to promote his CBD products.

This new partnership will result in Re+Play products, which include hemp-derived creams, oils, and capsules, becoming available online from Amazon and Walmart.

SpectrumLeaf and Voon Create Cannabis Pouches that Are Up to Snuff

The Goop-ification Of Wellness Is On The Way Out (You Can Thank Gen Z)

• The Goop-ification that marked the last decade of consumerism (as exemplified by Gwyneth Paltrow’s feel-good nostrums) shows increasing signs of decay as shoppers, especially Gen Z, exhibit a more critical eye.

• “What’s aspirational has changed,” says Beth McGroarty, research director at the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute. “Pressures to be perfectly happy, beautiful, and “healthy” are being replaced with a more realistic, relaxed, and less consumerist culture.”

• COVID-19 inspired many Americans to evaluate their personal wellness and their health knowledge. Evidence-based medicine became more attractive — and necessary. (On the flip side, the pandemic also pushed some groups to become more suspicious of the medical establishment.) Call it scrutiny or common sense, but more consumers nowadays check under the hood.

What Do Zoomers Like? Pot or Shrooms, Not Booze

• Of people aged 18 to 24, 69% prefer marijuana to alcohol, according to a recent survey by New Frontier Data, a cannabis research firm. Consumers up to age 44 have a similar stance. But the youngest cohort is of particular interest, because many of Gen Z’s members still don’t have paychecks and purchasing power. Its oldest members, up to age 24, may thus be a leading indicator, given that they already have around $360 billion in disposable income, are just of legal age to spend it on alcohol or marijuana, and will doubtlessly influence their younger peers.

• Investors see the promise, too; Cowen Inc., a financial-services firm that follows the cannabis sector, said shifting risk perceptions among 18-to-25-year-olds  gives it a bullish position on U.S. multistate operators. It cited data that showed that from 2002 to 2008, that age group thought smoking cannabis once or twice a week was riskier than having five drinks once or twice a week. Then, from 2008 to 2019, that perception flipped and cannabis was viewed as less and less risky.

• The top reasons for cannabis use were relaxation, sleep, emotional release and fun, according to Brightfield. Many are also specifically turning a cheek to alcohol, with “I want to be healthier” as the top rationale to decrease drinking.

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