How will consumer preferences shape cannabis retail in 2025?
Any good retailer – regardless of the industry – takes consumer preferences into consideration when making business decisions.
Cannabis retailers are no exception. Regulated marijuana sales are expected to reach $58 billion by 2030, according to the MJBiz Factbook. And consumer preferences will dictate how retailers shape their product offerings and inventory in 2025. Growing interest in several marijuana product categories underscores the importance of retailers stocking inventory that anticipates shifts in consumer demand.
Pre-rolls and pre-ground flower
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Between June 2023 and June 2024, pre-rolls experienced the biggest increase in sales revenue, which jumped 11.9% during that period. It’s clear pre-rolls are showing sustained growth, and that trend looks to continue. Similarly, pre-ground flower in larger, “ready-to-roll” packaging, such as half-ounce and 1-ounce pouches, also is growing in popularity. In any given marijuana store, flower and pre-rolls combined typically comprise 50%-60% of total sales.
The appeal of pre-rolls is mostly about convenience, and consumers enjoy a broad range of potency options. Retailers also cater to different preferences and needs with ground flower, providing customers with flexible options in a convenient format.
Vapes
Vape cartridges are gaining popularity across various demographics. In fact, the cannabis vape market was valued at $5 billion in 2023, according to Delaware-headquartered Global Market Insights. Vapes offer consumers a quick way to consume with a level of subtlety that many find appealing. In markets such as Massachusetts, where carts are priced as low as $25 per gram, vapes provide consumers with a cost-effective and long-lasting option.
At Boston-based Silver Therapeutics, vape cartridges make up 20%-25% of our cannabis retail sales.
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Edibles
Marijuana-infused products are generally experiencing growth, though preferences are shifting within this category. For instance, gummies are the more preferred edibles option, while infused chocolates sales are declining.
This shift could stem from a two key factors:
Gummies offer greater variety in flavor and flexibility.
Gummies are typically more cost-effective to produce than chocolate, as cocoa prices have surged over the past few years, making cannabis-infused chocolate more expensive to manufacture.
On average, edibles represent approximately 18% of marijuana retail sales.
Beverages
According to San Francisco-headquartered Grand View Research, the global cannabis beverages market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2023, and its compound annual growth rate from 2024 to 2030 is forecast at 19.2%. Many consumers, such as Millennials and Gen Zers, view marijuana as a more healthful option than alcohol. Thus, consumers are choosing to sip on discreet, cannabis-infused seltzers rather than beer or wine.