In April, BDSA (formerly BDS Analytics) reported that 2019 legal cannabis sales grew by 46 percent to $14.8 billion, the industry's highest annual rate of growth to date. BDSA noted that part of this strong growth was due to medical programs in U.S. states that reported higher-than-expected sales in 2019, boosting overall U.S. growth.

The report delivers new and unique insights on cannabis consumer shopping behavior, including potential whitespace opportunities for brands, and is based on nationwide primary research conducted by the two firms.

While records of medical and therapeutic use of cannabis go back thousands of years, several points in history proved instrumental to furthering the ongoing body of research.

In 2009, Sweet Grass, Denver, began its journey, producing freshly baked, cannabis-infused edibles. In 2013, the company decided to move closer toward vertical integration and started handling its own in-house cannabis cultivation, making it a "crop-to-cookie" business.

One of the biggest opportunities is with cannabidiol (CBD), an ingredient you've no doubt seen in food industry news quite a bit this year. But just what is it, how can it be used, why is it so popular and what are the implications for the restaurant industry?

The study, conducted in collaboration with MFour, a leader in mobile market research, surveyed recent purchasers of cannabis products to drive purchase-based insights

Research has shown that these cannabinoids can relieve symptoms of pain and insomnia, and might be particularly helpful for cancer patients. But the terpenes in cannabis also factor into formulations—and in more ways than one.

On October 17, 2018, Canada nationally legalized medical and recreational cannabis use for adults. In doing so, that country has set the stage for significant R&D of legal cannabis edibles and beverages—often with the help of U.S. investors.