# Cannabis Commerce Regional marijuana legalization opens the door for new ventures. By [Rebecca Byers](https://www.trendhunter.com/becbyers), Insights Research at Trend Hunter | Published May 23, 2016 | Category: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/business-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/cannabis-commerce ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.6/10 - Evidence articles: 7 ## What is the Cannabis Commerce trend? **Cannabis Commerce:** Just as a fast-growing legal recreational marijuana market has created a demand for brands and products, the emerging opportunity has allowed for the emergence of new ventures that serve functions unique to the cannabis business. In addition to highlighting the far-reaching nature of the legal cannabis market, this shift highlights the opportunity for brands offering B2B services to leverage the needs of entrepreneurs in unique emerging sectors. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 7 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 13, 2015 to Aug 11, 2016 - Published: May 23, 2016 - Patterns: [Convergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/convergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Naturality](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/naturality), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe ## Themes within the Cannabis Commerce trend ### B2B services for cannabis businesses As the legal recreational marijuana market grows, there is a demand for unique brands and products, creating opportunities for B2B service providers to leverage emerging sectors. ### Scientific research and development in the cannabis industry Startups like Potbotics are bringing biotechnology and DNA analysis to dispensaries to help doctors prescribe the right strain for the right condition, highlighting the need for scientific research and development in the cannabis industry. ### Connective platforms for improved customer service Innovative platforms like Baker Technologies are fully-equipped customer relationship management, loyalty and marketing tools, helping dispensaries improve customer service and win over customers much like other businesses do. ## What the Cannabis Commerce trend means for industry ### For Biotech The need for cannabis-specific scientific research and development highlights the potential for the biotech industry to get involved and bring innovations to the cannabis space. ### For Tech As Microsoft and other tech companies collaborate with the cannabis industry, there is an opportunity for tech professionals to develop new software and tools to support the industry. ### For Retail With the emergence of legal cannabis markets, there is a growing demand for unique brands and products, creating new opportunities for retail professionals to enter the cannabis industry. ## Workshop question In your current position as a company, how can you help new businesses that are embarking upon niche markets? Consider co-branding, co-creations and B2B involvement. ## Trend signals for Cannabis Commerce Trend score 4.6 out of 10, from popularity 72%, activity 57%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 72% - Activity: 57% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Cannabis Commerce trend 7 featured examples from Apr 13, 2015 to Aug 11, 2016. - [Connective Cannabis Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marijuana-dispensaries-platform): This Platform Helps Marijuana Dispensaries Improve Customer Service (Category: Tech) Implication: Marijuana dispensaries can benefit from disruptive innovation in customer relationship management, loyalty programs, and online reservation platforms. - [Cannabis Merchandising Firms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/high-road-design-studio): The High Road Design Studio is Aiming to Rebrand Medical Marijuana (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Interior design firms can tap into the growing cannabis industry by offering design solutions for dispensaries. - [Convenient Cannabis Service Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blazenow): Blazenow is a New App That Helps Users Find Dispensaries (Category: Tech) Implication: The cannabis industry stands to gain immensely from innovations in app-based services like Blazenow. - [Medical Marijuana Management Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/releaf-app): The 'Releaf' App Tracks Patients' Cannabis Usage Statistics (Category: Tech) Implication: Opportunity for technology companies to develop apps, wearable devices, and analytics platforms to track and analyze medical cannabis usage. - [Seed-to-Sale Management Software](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flowhub): Flowhub is an Intuitive Growth Management System for Dispensaries (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: The emergent cannabis industry is at the forefront of seed-to-sale management software innovation. - [Medical Marijuana Biotech Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/potbotics): Potbotics is a Biotech Startup Doing Revolutionary Research (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Potbotics' incorporation of robotics, artificial intelligence, and DNA analysis in cannabis research opens up disruptive innovation opportunities within the biotechnology industry. - [Corporate Cannabis Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsoft-software): Microsoft Software Will Be Used to Track Legal Marijuana Sales (Category: Business) Implication: The use of software in the legal marijuana industry presents opportunities for growth and innovation within the tech industry. ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Conversion](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ai-assisted-checkout) (Business) - [Occasion Commerce](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/occasion-commerce) (Business) - [Autonomous Merchandising](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autonomous-merchandising) (Business) - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Business - [Performance-Based Creator Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creator-ad-platforms) - [MIami Pop-Culture Shirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-pop-culture-shirts) - [Natural Deodorant Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/target-beauty-studios) - [Mini Beauty Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-luxuries-store) All articles: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business)