From your vet to even your mum, everyone seems to have an opinion on CBD these days. With more and more contradictory information filling up our inboxes, it’s time to call in the experts. Here’s what a CBD entrepreneur, investor, recruiter and herbalist have to say…
The entrepreneur
Sally Wynter, founder of drinks brand MUHU, started adding CBD to her cocktails over a year ago after she found it lifted her mood, made her more sociable and relaxed. This served as inspiration for her own brand.
Sally says: “The cannabis space is an incredibly exciting (but also challenging) sector for new businesses to be entering into. CBD really only scratches the surface of the uses we’ll see during the next few years for cannabis – after all, it’s one of over 100 cannabinoids!
“From a consumer perspective, we’re seeing an increasing demand for products that address a particular need state. The magic of cannabinoids like CBD is that the benefits people talk about receiving are so varied. I know 17-year-olds who say CBD is the only thing they’ve tried that reduces their anxiety, but I also know of friends of my mum in their 60s, who swear by it for back and joint pain!
“There’s huge scope for innovation across beauty and healthcare. The combination of CBD and spirits that MUHU offers is currently a niche part of the market that I expect will grow significantly over the next few years. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of new products incorporating CBD in the non-alcoholic/alcohol alternative space.
“So many more people are choosing not to drink on certain occasions and I think the choice here needs to be vastly improved. Whilst the first MUHU release is a fully alcoholic gin, future line extensions may well include non-alcoholic spirits.”
The herbalist
Naturopath Jenya Di Pierro’s inspiration for her wellness club Cloud Twelve developed from her work and experiences in the field of holistic well-being, and her passion for harnessing the healing power of nature to support the mind and body. Her introduction of CBD oil into treatments is just the latest stage of this.
Jenya says: “CBD is an excellent health-boosting product, great for pain, inflammation and anxiety, but it is not a panacea for everything. It can be faster acting as it comes in higher concentrations than traditional herbal products, but it is just one remedy for a number of health conditions and cannot solve all of our problems.
“It’s effect very much depends on the individual, their lifestyle and wellness goals. In naturopathy, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of cure, the approach is always individualised and takes into account all contributing factors – diet, lifestyle, sleep hygiene, digestive capacity, stress levels, as well as the disease that the patient has.”
The investor
Real Cannabis Club’s Phil Patterson considers old fashioned investing in crops, oil and gas to be boring. It has no sex appeal. That’s how he came to invest in the cannabis sector.
Phil says: “I once stood on a stage beside Lakshmi Mittal. Founder of ArcelorMittal, and the seventh richest man in the world. Ashamedly, I didn’t even know who he was. Mr Mittal built a steel empire from scratch. The words ‘magnate’ or ‘tycoon’ are often thrown about, but it is very much deserved in this case. With no theatrics or fanfare, he quietly constructed a business around a core resource for the survival of human kind. It might not be sexy, but we do rather need steel to fabricate those railroads and bridges. That’s how I think about cannabis as an investment opportunity.
“Globally, we are dependent on the pharmaceutical industry. At all levels of society, pharmacology has permeated our daily routines. Some pharmaceuticals perform vital, life-saving functions. What if there was an alternative? That is why I have, and will continue to invest in the cannabis sector. Because the endocannabinoid system (which supports vital bodily functions and indicators such as blood pressure, sleep, neuropathy and heart health) is a real thing hardwired into human beings. It exists, and cannabis products will catalyse it and improve wellness globally. Like mining and timber, old fashioned investing in human requirements still generates solid returns.
“Like Mr Mittal, it will be the companies who do the right thing from day one that will succeed. Those that have a robust foundation and a strong culture on which to grow. Companies like Real Cannabis Club who operate ethically and with transparency.”
The recruiter
George Vincent launched Handpicked Jobs after the November 2018 legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK, with a vision to become the UK’s go-to recruitment platform for cannabis-specific jobs.
In its first four months, Handpicked Jobs had over 12,500 candidates sign up to the platform, registering their interest to work in the legal cannabis industry, whilst also confirming George’s instinct of high interest in the sector.
George says: “The future of the cannabis industry will be shaped by the people that work in it. Which makes recruitment strategy critical – not only for the success of every company in the space, but also to the very shaping of the industry itself.
“There are currently only a handful of bigger CBD companies that have a requirement for hiring staff. And on the most part, it’s sales and marketing people that they’re looking for to push their brand into more retail outlets (both online and offline).
“Good sales staff will always be key to new businesses selling products, however good marketing people that can think outside the box are also in high demand, as the limitations on Google and Facebook ads for CBD mean there is opportunity for those that can generate revenue with such restrictions.
“As the CBD market leaders get bigger and start to mature, their hiring requirements are growing too – incorporating customer services, tech, finance, operations etc.”
