U.S. Consumers Have Spent More Than $4.1 Billion On Pre-Rolled Joints In The Past 18 Months and Packaged Flower is still #1 Above even Pre-Rolled Flower Joints!

Flower reigns supreme, whether buying it as buds and flowers or having those buds and flowers pre-rolled into joints for you, smoking cannabis is still the king according to a new industry study!

With customer tastes changing toward convenience and ready-to-use products, pre-rolled joints have transformed from a niche product to a retail mainstay, quickly becoming one of the cannabis industry’s fastest-growing segments.

According to a recent study, pre-rolls witnessed the greatest rise in sales income across all product categories from June 2023 to June 2024, growing by 11.89%.

This analysis discovered that pre-rolls produced more than $4.1 billion in sales, with over 394 million units sold during that time period.

Custom Cones USA, a Renton, Washington-based pre-roll packaging and production company, and Headset, a cannabis industry analytics organization headquartered in Seattle, conducted the research.

“Quality has continued to increase, and prices continue to drop,” said Harrison Bard, co-founder and CEO of Custom Cones USA and DaySavers.

Adam Coates, chief revenue officer at Decibel Cannabis Co., based in Calgary, Alberta, and producer of Canada’s top-selling pre-roll brand, General Admission, credited pre-rolls’ growing popularity to consumers’ desire for instant gratification.

“Convenience formats are starting to take hold,” Coates noted. “That’s why pre-rolls are growing, and you’re also seeing similar trends in other categories like all-in-one vapes.”

Leading the Pack in Popularity and Sales with Infused Pre-rolls

Infused joints, which became the leading pre-roll category in the U.S. last year, have consistently held an average 43.4% share of the market in areas tracked by Headset.

In the first half of 2024, infused pre-rolls captured a 44.4% market share, indicating a growing consumer preference for premium products.

According to the Custom Cones USA study, infused pre-roll sales exceeded $1.75 billion in 2023 and the first half of 2024, surpassing hybrid and single-strain pre-rolls, which generated $1.64 billion in sales during the same period.

Sales of General Admission infused pre-rolls surged in 2022 after Health Canada clarified regulatory language. Previously, regulations were interpreted to prohibit combining two cannabis classes, like dried flower and extracts, into a single product, which restricted infused pre-rolls.

“Our leading product line – and what established our market position – is distillate-infused pre-rolls,” said Adam Coates, chief revenue officer of Decibel Cannabis Co. “We observed their success in U.S. markets like Colorado, California, and Oregon. High-potency pre-rolls with added terpenes match what consumers want.”

According to Jeeter CEO Sebastian Solano, non-infused pre-rolls typically dominate new markets, accounting for 70%-90% of sales. However, “once Jeeter enters the market, infused pre-roll sales increase,” Solano said. “In some markets, they grow to 70%.”

Custom Cones USA’s Harrison Bard noted that while many consumers seek the highest potency possible, factors like freshness, terpene profile, and cannabinoid content also play a role, especially for those managing anxiety. “Potency isn’t everything,” Bard explained. “It’s just one of many factors.”

Some consumers prioritize price, a space where Michigan-based Dragonfly excels. “As states open up and prices fall, quality cannabis becomes more accessible,” said Ching Ho, founder of Dragonfly, which claims a 90% share of Michigan’s wholesale pre-roll market. “We move more pre-rolls monthly in Michigan than the New York market does in a year.”

With plans to enter the New York market, Ho emphasized Dragonfly’s value-driven approach: “We offer a high-value product at one of the lowest prices,” Ho said. Dragonfly’s non-infused pre-rolls sell for $1, and infused options for $3, thanks to in-house cannabis production. “It’s like Costco’s rotisserie chickens,” Ho noted. “Owning our production enables those prices.”

Multipack Pre-Rolls: Affordable, Convenient, and Increasingly Popular

Pre-packaged multipacks of pre-rolls, containing two or more joints, are gaining traction due to their affordability and convenience. They offer cost savings for both manufacturers, who reduce packaging and labor expenses, and consumers, who benefit from purchasing multiple joints at once.

According to the Custom Cones USA-Headset study, multipacks held a 27.7% share of the pre-roll market in 2018, a figure that has surged to nearly 50% as of June.

Multipack revenue rose by 43% in just 18 months, increasing from $89.1 million in January 2023 to $127.4 million in June.

“Joints used to be more of an add-on,” said Harrison Bard of Custom Cones USA. “Now consumers are shopping specifically for pre-rolls.”

Bard noted that multipacks reflect brand loyalty, with many consumers opting to stick with the same product throughout the week. Some brands even offer multipacks with various strains or targeted effects.

While the 1-gram pre-roll remains the most popular option, smaller quarter-gram “dog-walker” joints are also on the rise in popularity.

Pre-Rolls Make Cannabis More Accessible… Appealing to New Consumers

According to the study, pre-rolls rank as the third-largest category, following flower and vape pens, both of which saw modest growth of under 3.5%.

Pre-rolls are likely to keep gaining market share because they’re easier to consume than flower, which requires grinding and either rolling into a joint or using a separate smoking device, noted Adam Coates.

Pre-rolls also attract newer consumers who may be unfamiliar with marijuana but are curious to try it.

“Breaking up flower and rolling a joint isn’t very approachable,” said Jeeter’s Sebastian Solano. “True enthusiasts love seeing the flower they’re smoking and enjoy the ritual involved.”

Quality and Freshness Drive Evolution in the Pre-Roll Market

In the early days of marijuana legalization, consumers often avoided pre-rolls due to the low-quality cannabis used to fill them. However, as pre-roll quality has improved, consumers are now prioritizing freshness, explained Harrison Bard.

Although eco-friendly paper and cardboard packaging were initially common, they are increasingly being replaced by containers designed to keep cannabis from drying out. Manufacturers are even starting to use humidors to maintain freshness, and Bard predicts that humidors could soon become a fixture in the homes of frequent cannabis users.

While cigar humidors typically have angled shelves for display, cannabis humidors require flat shelves, noted Bard, adding that Custom Cones USA recently began offering humidors specifically designed for pre-rolls.

Bard also anticipates that manufacturers will start adding “best-by” dates to pre-roll packaging and may offer to take back unsold pre-rolls past this date or sell them at discounted stores.

To meet consumer demand for freshness, pre-roll companies will need to improve supply chain management and demand forecasting. In a competitive market, companies may produce thousands of pre-rolls daily without selling them quickly, Bard noted.

“Cannabis isn’t as risky as gas station sushi, but consumer expectations are high, and so is competition,” Bard said. “Brands that can guarantee freshness by marking production dates and taking back older products will stand out in the market.”

Bottom Line

The pre-roll cannabis market has become a dominant force in the industry, fueled by consumer demand for convenience, variety, and premium options like infused joints. With sales driven by innovations in quality, affordability, and multipack offerings, pre-rolls now stand as a top-selling product segment. As brands enhance freshness and shelf-life management, pre-rolls are poised to maintain robust growth, appealing to both new and experienced cannabis consumers seeking accessible, ready-to-use products.

A BUYERS’ GUIDE TO PRE-ROLLS, READ BELOW…

THE GUIDE TO BUYING PRE-ROLLS AND FLOWER, READ THIS FIRST!

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Join us for a post-election breakdown: “Post-Election Cannabis Wrap – Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em”

As the dust settles (hopefully) from the 2024 U.S. elections, the cannabis industry stands at the threshold of potentially transformative changes. Join us on November 7th at 12 PM Pacific for an engaging discussion on the ramifications of the legal landscape of cannabis, post-election. We will cover everything from the Presidential and Congressional races, to the handful of pending state ballot measure results in Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Oregon.

Post-election Q&A webinar details:

Vince Sliwoski will guide the discussion with seasoned industry veterans Aaron Pelley and Fred Rocafort. Collectively, these experts bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of what lies ahead for the cannabis industry.

Whether you are a cannabis entrepreneur, investor, or simply keen on the future of cannabis legislation, this discussion is designed for you.

Prepare your best questions and join us for deep insights into:

• How the election outcomes are expected to reshape federal and state cannabis policies, including with pending Schedule III proposal.
• The potential for new market openings and business opportunities in onboarding states.
• Strategic advice on navigating the evolving regulatory environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert post-election insights that could redefine your strategy and operations in the coming months and years.

Register Here

All addictive behaviors are complex health issues to treat, especially when it’s already in severe stages.

Alcoholism is already defined as a medical disorder characterized by the patients’ inability to control their consumption of alcohol, no matter how much damage it’s causing their health and their lives. However, the symptoms of alcoholism occur in a spectrum since its characteristics vary greatly from one person to another. That said, they all have one thing in common: a major dependence on alcohol, whether psychological or physical.

Also known as alcohol use disorder, this condition is challenging to treat. The physical and psychological dependence, social influences, environment, and risk of relapse all play an important role. That’s why treating alcoholism usually takes a long period of time, anywhere from a few weeks to months at a time. In addition, alcohol withdrawals can be so dangerous that some patients may be required to check into a treatment center, rehab, or hospital just so that they can be safely monitored in the process.

How Small Doses Of Magic Mushrooms Help

However, psilocybin or magic mushrooms have been promising for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Recent studies have shed light on the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin for alcoholism, specifically its efficacy and quick-acting mechanisms.

A recent study conducted by investigators at the University of Copenhagen together with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism revealed that just one dose of psilocybin taken from magic mushrooms was successful in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study involved 10 adults, who were already seeking treatment for their condition; they were all diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder.

They were asked to complete a treatment protocol including two sessions for preparation, a 25mg dose of psilocybin, then two integration sessions. The researchers had the primary goal of analyzing whether just one dose of psilocybin already had any impact on alcohol consumption. They found that there was a significant reduction among the patients’ alcohol consumption following psilocybin therapy; this was observed in the quantity of heavy drinking days and average number of alcoholic drinks consumed, which dropped by 37.5 percentage points and 3.4 units respectively.

In addition, the participants also observed sustained decreases in alcohol cravings.

Meanwhile, there was another study from 2022 conducted by investigators at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine that assessed 93 participants with alcohol dependence. For the trials, they were randomly given either 2 doses of psilocybin or a placebo containing antihistamine. The participants, as well as the researchers, weren’t aware of which was given to whom.

It was interesting to find that just 8 months after the treatment, the participants who were given psilocybin were found to reduce heavy drinking by as much as 83%. On the other hand, the participants given placebo cut down drinking by 51%. Other notable findings include the fact that 48% of participants, who were given psilocybin, were found to have quit alcohol completely – also 8 months after treatment.

“Our findings strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising means of treating alcohol use disorder, a complex disease that has proven notoriously difficult to manage,” explains Michael P. Bogenschutz MD, the study’s senior author as well as a psychiatrist. Bogenschutz also functions as a director of the NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine.

“As research into psychedelic treatment grows, we find more possible applications for mental health conditions,” adds Dr. Bogenschutz. “Beyond alcohol use disorder, this approach may prove useful in treating other addictions such as cigarette smoking and abuse of cocaine and opioids,” he said.  

Why Is This Important?

Over the last few years, thanks to the legalization of marijuana, more people are shifting to the so-called ‘California sober’ lifestyle. Giving up alcohol, as opposed to drinking it, is perceived (rightly so) as the healthier option while getting drunk is no longer seen as cool.

We’re on the right track, but there’s still so much work to be done. No matter how you put it, alcohol is still a deadly and highly poisonous substance that is dangerously so accessible because it’s legal. In fact, alcohol is literally a legal drug that can easily kill you. That said, there is still a whopping 28.9 million people aged 12 and up who struggle with alcohol use disorder, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Simultaneously, there’s more research than ever discussing the harms of alcohol. It does so much more to the human body than harm your liver: the body receives it as poison from the very first sip, and it affects all organs more than you know. The facts are there, and they are horrifying, so it’s in your best interest to stop drinking altogether.

Conclusion

 

Psilocybin-assisted therapy is already on the rise in North America – though there are also several notable psychedelic healing centers in Mexico and The Americas. That, and the development of psilocybin-focused medical centers in the most renowned medical schools and hospitals in the country are proof of just how popular – and promising – psilocybin is becoming.

So if you are interested in using psychedelics to treat alcoholism, perhaps for yourself or someone in your life, you can now explore these options. Alcoholism is not one that you can or should self-medicate with, due to the extreme dangers imposed by withdrawals. Seek out professional medical supervision for the best, safest results using psilocybin to treat alcoholism!

PSYCHEDELICS FOR ALCOHOLISM, WHAT WE KNOW, READ ON…

WHAT PSYCHEDELICS CAN DO FOR ALCOHOLICS, WE NOW KNOW..