Inflation Hits Cannabis Industry as Prices Rise

Aug.09.2022
Inflation Hits Cannabis Industry as Prices Rise
Inflation is impacting the cannabis industry, with one in four retailers reporting plans to raise prices by over 10%.

Although inflation has already disrupted many people's plans for summer off-road trips, the impact of rising prices could soon cause real harm to certain individuals.


So far, marijuana and many related products have largely shed the double-digit growth seen in many foods, from chicken to avocados. An analysis firm even reported that prices for marijuana flowers, edibles, and vape products fell by 16.7%, 11.8%, and 12.4%, respectively, between January 2021 and 2022.


Due to a variety of interconnected reasons, such as lack of available materials and supply chain disruptions, the prices of most things have been steadily and rapidly increasing at a rate unseen in 40 years. Even if the prices of main products have not risen, the increase in packaging material costs has had little effect on any industry.


From June 2021 to June 2022, the Consumer Price Index has increased 9.1%. Additionally, according to a recent report from the cannabis industry and accounting firm GreenGrowth CPAs, the cannabis industry may finally be experiencing inflation. With labor and material costs for producing ready-to-eat cannabis products on the rise, one in four cannabis retailers report that they have already increased or plan to increase prices by 10% or more next year.


According to the report, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis businesses has been relatively limited. Based on last year's data, supply chain and recruitment difficulties were reported as issues affecting almost all industries in 2021, in addition to supply challenges being the most common issue currently impacting operators. The survey examined over 700 companies in states where recreational or medical cannabis use is legal, including startups and large multinational operators. While 70% of operators reported they would attempt to absorb rising costs rather than raise prices, 30% plan to proactively increase prices to prevent losses.


The survey found that there were differing opinions among respondents regarding responsibility for rising inflation, with 40% citing policies of the Biden administration and 30% attributing it to lingering impacts of the Trump administration. Other reasons quoted by operators included supply-chain issues, conflicts with countries like Russia and China, and effects of the oil industry's operations. Nationwide numbers are not entirely reflective as marijuana use and production currently remain illegal at a federal level. However, despite price increases, demand for marijuana has remained strong during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Since the start of quarantine, some online delivery services in California have seen sales increase by 500%.


After two years of crisis and uncertainty following the global pandemic, cannabis financial operators find themselves navigating a range of new, complex situations and business obstacles," the report states. "But it's not all bad news. Many operators have benefited from the surge in demand and are using this new windfall to develop ambitious growth plans.


Statement


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry communication and learning purposes only.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the article's content. The translation of this article is only intended for industry communication and research.


Due to limitations in translation proficiency, the translated article may not fully correspond with the original text. Therefore, the original text should be referred to for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government on all domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign affairs positions and statements.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and author, and if there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Product | PMI Launches Airport-Exclusive IQOS Skylens Limited Edition, Expanding From Japan’s Narita to Travel Retail Markets in 13 Countries Summary
Product | PMI Launches Airport-Exclusive IQOS Skylens Limited Edition, Expanding From Japan’s Narita to Travel Retail Markets in 13 Countries Summary
Philip Morris International (PMI) has introduced the airport-exclusive limited-edition IQOS ILUMA i PRIME Skylens, the company’s first device created specifically for airport travel retail. Inspired by the world of flight and finished in metallic blue, Skylens debuted at Narita International Airport in Japan before expanding into selected airport duty-free and travel-retail channels across 13 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The product retains the existing IQOS ILUMA i PRIME platform, with differentiation centered on airport exclusivity, design and travel-retail execution rather than a new heating architecture.
PMI
Aug.19
BAT’s Velo Study Finds 61% of Nicotine Users Feel More Comfortable Expressing Themselves When Others Do the Same
BAT’s Velo Study Finds 61% of Nicotine Users Feel More Comfortable Expressing Themselves When Others Do the Same
British American Tobacco’s (BAT) nicotine pouch brand Velo has released a global consumer study and launched its “Echoes of Tomorrowland” campaign with electronic music festival brand Tomorrowland. The research surveyed 2,009 nicotine users across the UK, Spain, Pakistan, Poland and Austria. Velo said 61% of respondents feel more comfortable expressing themselves when they see others doing the same, while 39% said building meaningful connections becomes harder with age. The campaign reflects how nicotine pouch brands are increasingly using music, communities and lifestyle marketing to build consumer engagement.
Aug.10
EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections
EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections
An analysis by We Are Innovation says more than 90% of over 82,000 responses to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Tobacco Products Directive revision raised at least one substantial objection to the proposed regulatory direction.
Jul.13
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
Bank of America upgraded Imperial Brands to “buy” from “neutral,” saying investors have overreacted to the tobacco group’s Australian business downturn and that the share-price pullback has created a more attractive entry point.
Jul.16
U.S. FDA: Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign Prevented About 444,000 Initiations and Reduced Illegal Vape Sales
U.S. FDA: Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign Prevented About 444,000 Initiations and Reduced Illegal Vape Sales
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said its youth e-cigarette prevention campaign, “The Real Cost,” prevented about 444,000 U.S. youth from starting e-cigarette use between 2023 and 2024 and blocked more than $42 million in unauthorized e-cigarette sales that would have been used by youth.
Market
Jun.25
Product | VEEV One Plus Goes Official as PMI Strengthens Its Closed-Pod Vaping Portfolio
Product | VEEV One Plus Goes Official as PMI Strengthens Its Closed-Pod Vaping Portfolio
Philip Morris International (PMI) has officially introduced the VEEV One Plus, the next-generation device in its closed-pod vaping lineup. The product is now featured on the official VEEV website in Portugal, bringing hardware upgrades including a new dual-pod storage system, a larger battery, and an updated device design while maintaining compatibility with existing VEEV One pods.
Jul.02