Between a global pandemic, renewed calls for civil rights, and a dramatic election season, it was a true roller coaster of emotions.
Cannabis & Tech Today has opted to declare the consumers Innovators of the Year, as they are the true driving force behind everything the industry does — and continues to strive for.
The COVID-19 virus forced millions of Americans to shelter-in-place beginning in early March, creating a new at-home culture that includes video chat boardroom meetings, online homeschooling, and a DIY renaissance.
“I have a disorder that causes me to be serotonin deficient; without medication, I suffer from severe depression and anxiety,” he said.
When large-scale shutdowns began to spread, the designation of “essential” or “non-essential” became an important factor in how we continued our day-to-day lives.
Furthermore, compliant cannabis companies are crucial to the survival of economies in towns large and small across the country, something even hardline bureaucrats were unable to see past.
If the pandemic and social unrest wasn’t enough, cannabis consumers also had to contend with arguably one of the most intense election seasons in a generation.
Voters in four states — Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota — approved full adult-use legalization while medical marijuana was legalized by residents in Mississippi.
“This has become less of a partisan issue and historically, drug policy has been led by the people, not politicians,” he told Cannabis & Tech Today.
As the population evolves and research into the potentials of cannabinoids expands, brand catalogs will be shaped by their customer base’s desired experiences first and foremost.
“‘Consumers’ used to be patients and we know that many people are still, perhaps more than ever, consuming cannabis as medicine or using it to enhance their lives,” explained Doc Green’s Chief Marketing Officer Elise McRoberts.
“We listen to our community so we can continue to evolve with them and provide products that fill their needs,” she continued.