New businesses are reaching future cannabis consumers with edibles: Here are 3 getting their food + buzz game on, plus branding design, too.

In the second half of 2021, after both houses of the New York State Legislature approved legislation to legalize marijuana, completely unrelated, I moved to greener pastures? California.
It was like hitting the fast forward button. A glimpse into New York?s future, with every street having a coffee shop, a nail salon, and a 2.0 drug*store. My entrepreneurial spirit was delighted to see that the fast-moving landscape of cannabis innovations had naturally progressed to the Food & Beverage space. And of course, as a food designer and events industry veteran, making + marketing products for adults who grew up watching cooking competitions made sense to me. A hybrid, a fusion, a mashup challenge. Every interdisciplinary intersection is always a window to imagine new things. Before concrete legislation and regulation, there were only so many pioneers taking on cannabis product innovation. But now with legalization and the FDA exploring how to regulate CBD, destigmatizing cannabis through the universal language of food is happening. Thanks to the growing social acceptance of eating and drinking it, many new businesses are trying to reach future cannabis consumers with edibles. Far beyond a pot brownie ice cream sandwich, we are now seeing crisp chili oil, almond butter, and loukum. But not just any sweet and chewy Turkish de...