BDSA expects regulated cannabis legalization, including hemp cannabidiol (hCBD), to accelerate in 2021.

The disruptive COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the U.S. retail market. Nevertheless, cannabis has persevered. Most U.S. states with a legal cannabis industry—medical or recreational—quickly deemed cannabis retailers essential businesses, allowing them to operate during even the darkest days of the pandemic.

BDSA has expanded its cannabis retail sales tracking coverage to include Canada, the world’s largest nationally legal cannabis market.

Global cannabis sales for 2020 will reach $19.7 billion, an increase of 38 percent over 2019 sales of $14.8 billion — even reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic — according to updated market forecasts published by BDSA (formerly BDS Analytics).

Jessica Lukas, senior VP of commercial development, BDSA, and Carl Edstrom, senior VP and principal, Survey Solutions, IRI, presented research on sales of cannabis products, consumer demographics, consumption occasions and the impact of COVID-19 during Cannabis Products Exchange, held virtually July 30-31.

All segments of the beverage industry are now embracing cannabis-infused drinks, according to new research from Prohibition Partners.

New Frontier Data, in partnership with payment innovator Square, has released the first volume of its newest CBD series, “U.S. CBD Consumer Report: Archetypes and Preferences.”

U.S. sales for cannabis-infused products is projected to approach $3 billion this year, according to a new report from New Frontier Data.