14 DAY TRIAL // Since Colorado decriminalized the use of marijuana, all kinds of drug-infused goodies have been appearing on the shelves of weed-shops. Stores around the state have seen a huge increase in the demand of edible drug-spiced products like cookies, chocolate, candies, or even sodas.
The fact that edibles are more discrete in their effects than the usual drug designed for smoking makes them fly off shelves, especially because many first-timers or curious users prefer the lighter versions. One of the state's most popular stores, LoDo Wellness, had to limit its costumers' purchase to just two items because of the incredibly big demand.
Popular treats like $15 (€11) marijuana-infused chocolate bars or $17 (€12.5) packs of chocolate Dixie rolls are some of the store's most consumed items. If the customer's purchases are not controlled, the store can end up with empty shelves in just a couple of hours, even if the stock was meant to last for almost one week.
“Edibles have been really huge with the recreational market. They're great if you're not a [marijuana] connoisseur and you want something more palatable,” Linda Andrews, owner of Denver's LoDo Wellness Center says, notes ABC News.
Before the decriminalization of recreational use, the sales were at an average level, with customers acquiring items just with a medical prescription. However, starting January 1, the sales grew up by 300 per cent. The provider for some of Colorado's shops had to build a new manufacturing facility in order to face the increasing demand.
From drug-infused chocolates and drinks, that come in several flavors, the manufacturer, Dixie Elixirs, also created marijuana-spiced lotions like lip balms or body moisturizer. The huge demand for recreational drug products has been creating new job opportunities and an entire new market.
Products can also be shipped to people's homes, with entrepreneurs developing a customized delivery service for weed-based products. From current estimates, the marijuana market will bring almost a $2.3 (€1.7) billion increase in sales just in 2014, and if experts are right, it will reach $10 (€7.4) billion by 2019.