Alternative Products Expo debuts new supplies for the legal marijuana industry
Hywaze HHC Flower- Our HHC Flower starts as a freshly grown CBG flower from Oregon that has been infused with HHC oil and botanical terpenes. HHC is a newer cannabinoid that is gaining popularity quickly. HHC effects are similar to THC; however, it is milder than delta-8 and more potent than CBD. HHC calms the whole body and mind while giving you the feeling of euphoria.
I feel old. It used to be (friends tell me) that someone would score an ounce of weed from a friend or dealer. It was Mexican on regular days and Columbian on good days. On payday, people smoked the buds, and when those ran out, they were left with shake (seeds that popped like popcorn mixed with leftover weed). There was a bag and a bong (or rolling papers), and it all happened in private. Supplies were purchased from a head shop. A four-finger ounce of decent weed was $25. The only pot derivative was hashish. It was all illegal. But I’m talking about the 1970s.
Now there is a legal mega-industry dedicated to getting people high. It started with CBD oil, a non-high-inducing extract from the hemp plant. With some legal wrangling, other extracts like delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, and HHC are booming, with companies competing for market share and your weed dollars. From that, creativity is the only limiting factor for products to cop a buzz.
After being delayed for a day by tropical storm Nicole, the Alternative Products Expo opened Friday at the Tampa Convention Center. Once known as the USA CBD Expo, the show has expanded to include a burgeoning multi-billion-dollar industry that includes kratom, mushrooms, dietary supplements, vape pens & nicotine replacements, energy beverages, and hemp derivatives, including Delta 8. The variety of products here is astonishing. All of them are ostensibly legal since they are derived from hemp, not THC-laden marijuana. The enormity of this trade show and the money spent on the exhibits tell the story of how much is at stake and how large the industry has become. The booths of the major vendors would fit right in with those at a national car show.
Attendees range from boho to business casual, with an age range that looks primarily millennial and Gen Z. But there are plenty of boomers about. Many of the attendees here are either in the business or trying to get started and are comparing products. Some are just here for the buzz.
A lot of the hype seems like snake oil sales. Claims of weight loss, anti-aging, immune system enhancement, and skin health seem at least premature, if not downright scammy. Admittedly, I see through my older, skeptical, and medical professional eyes. But still.
Want to see what the legal pot industry is doing and who the major players are? Want to score some weed-related swag? You need to go. The expo continues through Saturday, November 12. Tickets are available online or at the Convention Center. No one under 21 will be admitted.
