It’s no secret that the popularity of CBD has grown exponentially in recent years. Chances are someone in your circle of acquaintances has used CBD: a co-worker, a family member or a friend. And chances are they’ve shared stories about how well it works for whatever ails them: from arthritis and back pain to anxiety relief and acne reduction the miracle of CBD as a natural remedy seems to know no bounds.

The Cannabis (or marijuana) plant has two widely known derivatives, Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and Cannabidiol or CBD. THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, and causes the sensation of getting “high” that’s often associated with marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. This quality makes CBD an appealing option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs.

The CBD industry is flourishing and is conservatively projected to hit $16 billion in the United States by 2025. Already, the plant extract is being used in lotions, breath sprays, food products and much more. It has officially taken the health and wellness industry by storm and is completely reimagining the way we think about personal healthcare and natural medicine.

We sat down with Rama Mayo, co-founder of the #1 cannabis B2B show in California, Hall of Flowers (coming to Palm Springs in April 2020) to discuss industry trends and challenges. Rama is business-partners with cultural icons 2 Chainz, The Game, Gary Vaynerchuk & Juicy J. He runs the award-winning creative agency Green Street to service the needs of those brands plus more. Preferring to stay behind the scenes, he enables cannabis & non-cannabis brands to connect with cannabis consumers.

Rama is curating Green Street's first building project; 718 South Hill St., a 67,000 square foot business & social center in Los Angeles, and soon to be home to the world's leading Cannabis brands. Originally constructed over a century ago for The Los Angeles Furniture Factory, decades later renovated into a jewelry factory, then a featured location in the 1984 blockbuster Terminator, the building will now serve as a professional and social hub for entrepreneurs & creatives.

F10 - Tell us a little bit about the mission of the Hall of Flowers?

RM - I started HOF together with some incredible partners in 2018. Hall of Flowers is now the #1 licensed Cannabis B2B event company in the world with shows currently in Palm Springs (Cathedral City) and Santa Rosa California. With over 300 top licensed cannabis brand exhibitors our goal is to connect cannabis brands with buyers.

F10 - How do you think the rise in popularity of Cannabis has impacted the health and wellness industry?

RM - …It is just the start. This plant is truly medicine and big Pharma is going to take a huge position in the industry.

Installation by Alvaro Ilizarbe | Photo Courtesy of HOF

F10 - What are three of your favorite Cannabis brands and their products?

RM - Hi-Fi Hops by CannaCraft & Lagunitas, Indica Flower by Asterisk* and the Giant Joint from Vacation Cannabis Co.

F10 - What is your go-to CBD product to use in your everyday life?

RM - I use products that contain both THC & CBD. My favorite would be anything by Apothecanna.

F10 - What innovations / trends in the Cannabis industry are you excited to see more of?

RM - I am excited about collaborations between these young great companies and brands, and to help this community turn into a [major] industry.

F10 - What is the best piece of advice you can give someone looking to start their own CBD business?

RM - To be honest, I would say don't. From [what] I am seeing, the bubble has already burst. If you are bullish on doing it anyway, then have 10x the amount of money you think you need.

F10 - What is the biggest challenge facing the CBD industry today?

RM - The [legal] regulations are about to start getting created and it is going to be expensive to navigate.

F10 - How would you like to see the CBD industry grow / evolve in the next 5 years?

RM - I'm more focused on the THC side of the plant and I want both THC and CBD to evolve into the next major industry.

As many states in the US and countries around the world make strides in the legalization of CBD oil and cannabis, the door has been opened for scientists and others in the medical field to explore the true benefits of CBD oil after decades of strict regulations. We for one are excited to see how the industry will evolve with the changes in legislation, the economy and shifts in public perception as CBD becomes even more of a mainstream natural therapeutic remedy.

Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, but are still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level, but are legal under some state laws. Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.

Resources: Kyro | Medical News | New York Times