The entire cannabis industry is buzzing about delta-8 THC and other cannabinoids found rarely in the plant but gaining favor among growers and consumers.
Indeed, there has been a noticeable shift toward so-called novel cannabinoids among hemp producers surveyed by Hemp Industry Daily.
But CBD still rules the roost.
Cannabidiol, by far, continues to be the cannabinoid most growers strive to produce.
But one of the lesser-known cannabinoids, CBG, is gaining prominence. In 2019, 19% of hemp grown for cannabinoid extraction was for CBG; in 2020, that number grew to 43%. The percentage of hemp grown for CBD dropped from 96% in 2019 to 80% in 2020.
The shift is likely stems from due in part to growing research and public interest in the novel cannabinoids, even though CBD is still the most profitable cannabinoid in the hemp market.
Hemp cultivated for CBN remained nearly the same from 2019 to 2020, at 10% and 12%, respectively.
About 3% of growers were cultivating hemp for delta-8 THC, a category that has only gained traction only over the past last year.
Read more about the race to find stable THC-V genetics here.
Find more exclusive intelligence about the hemp industry in the Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook 2021 Edition, on sale here.