
As the legislation for recreational cannabis sweeps over the U.S., few can find opposition anymore. Its legality has provided medical relief for thousands as well as lifting the guilt of the recreational plant’s use for others. At the moment, nearly all recreational states have a large number of medical patients but, the longer those areas exit in an adult-use market, medical users seem to decline. In the long run of legalization, the question poses itself, does medical cannabis have a place in a post-recreational state?
When the year began, the medical cannabis market had remained consistent with the past. The growing number of states that have voted themselves into a medical cannabis market while recreational-use saturates has helped maintain that. In states that have already existed in that market and have transitioned into a recreational one, we see a slow but dramatic decline in the number of medical patients. For example, after Oregon become legal for recreational use in 2015, their medical patient count has dropped 42% as of today. Nevada and Colorado have fared slightly better but have still declined 32% and 22%, respectively. The only factor aiding Colorado is the lower cost for enrollment in their MMJ program as well as lower taxes for purchases. Despite annual sales for cannabis rising, or remaining consistent, the amount of consumers registering themselves as medical patients continues to decline country-wide.
Many of the reasons can be attributed to associated cost. When recreational markets become available, the price of cannabis products typically spikes until the market’s supply and demand equals itself out. During that time, the high cost, combined with the cost of registering as a medical patient deters many for continuing their status as one in the new market. Products that were once unavailable in general are now available to the general public, causing a shift in buying habits. Despite the usual higher-potency items available to medical patients, most are opting for quantity over quality after the price change. When prices do fall, the extra cash being used to attain specific products seems a bit absurd to most.
So, how do we ensure the medical market is preserved as we move closer to recreational legalization? We believe the answer lies in product variety.
As most companies cater to their adult-use consumers when the market transitions, medical patients see fewer products geared towards them and their medical needs. Items like RSO or high-CBD items tend to phase out of shops and are replaced with higher-THC items instead.
In the long run, these medical programs can survive but, the initial money-grab of recreational transition does hinder it. One way to fix this would be focusing heavily on the education of cannabis’ medical uses before states make the change. Even after, further education to the public on cannabinoids besides THC will allow for cannabis companies to still prosper and profit from making lower-THC and higher-CBD items available to the public.
If the medical market in your state is dwindling, educate those around you on the multiple uses of cannabis and hemp, as well. As our industry moves more into the limelight, it’s important to not forget the reasons we all needed to do this. Cannabis can save lives but, only if we remember and hold strong to the medical research that has gotten us this far.