As we approach the beginning of summer, it’s clear what the big trends in cannabis will be this year. All of them are giving cannabis curious consumers a chance to try to new products, especially those infused with cannabidiols (CBD).

While research is ongoing, many studies have found that CBD offers health benefits for users. Athletes have advocated them for pain management. Some people say they help enhance their workouts. Others are even advocating its use for quitting smoking.

What are some of the trends in cannabis that are leading to new products in 2019? Here’s a look at what has made headlines so far in 2019.

Wellness Products

With hemp made legal by Congress, hemp-derived CBD products became one of the biggest trends in cannabis. Products have stated to rapidly hit store shelves. But what is “wellness” when it comes to cannabis?

Cannabis activist Steve DeAngelo, in his book “The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness,” argues that it’s really about everything both THC and CBD can do. He wrote that this includes “sparking creativity, extending patience, promoting self-examination, awakening wonder, catalyzing laughter, facilitating friendship and enhancing the sound of music or the feel of your lover’s skin.”

CBD products have been offering wellness for many years now. They include CBD-infused edibles, water, oils, lotions and pills. CBD has quickly become the most explosive area of growth in the cannabis industry.

If you want to try a CBD product, you have plenty of choices already on the market. More are certainly on their way.

Drink Specials Coming Soon

There’s been plenty of attention given to large beverage companies launching research into creating cannabis and CBD-infused beverages. That’s because the big companies don’t want to get left behind when it comes to what looks to be a huge market for cannabis products.

Legal issues may get in the way of these products making their way to the shelves of your local stores. Much depends on the state and local laws where you live. There also are some legal ambiguities when it comes to the legality of hemp-derived CBD that has low levels of THC.

At any rate, these are some of the companies developing products for you to try.

• Constellation Brands has invested $4 billion into developing cannabis-infused beverages with Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth.
• Labatt, a subsidiary of AB InBev (which owns Budweiser and many other big brands), has partnered with Canadian cannabis company Tilray to develop CBD and THC-infused non-alcoholic beverages.
• Heineken-owned craft beer brand Lagunitas has created HiFi Hops, sparkling water that is beer-flavored and contains CBD and THC.

Edibles

This continues to be an area of big growth for those who want to use cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes but do not want to smoke it. The variety of options is growing fast.

For example, in Los Angeles you can get gluten-free marijuana edibles. You also can get paleo edibles and cannabis-infused kombucha.

Where does this end? It doesn’t. For example, an Israeli company already is making cannabis pizza. The company, Cannible, has also developed cannabis desserts, popcorn and coffee.  And chefs around the world are finding ways to infuse their latest dishes with cannabis.

Market research company Arcview recently projected the edibles market will reach $4.1 billion by 2022. What that means for consumers is this: you’ll not only see cannabis-infused items on menus but also be able to buy them off local grocery shelves.

All this means more options for those who want to try THC or CBD products. While much still depends on ironing out legal issues, the trend is toward more products on shelves in the very near future.