As a legal cannabis business, it’s more important than ever to prioritize high-quality pre-rolled joints. Flower is the most popular cannabis product category among consumers, but pre-rolls are steadily catching up.
A recent study found that pre-roll sales are on the rise in Canada, with flower leading sales by only 0.25% in 2024. As the Canadian cannabis market levels out, pre-roll sales aren’t slowing down. The study even predicts that pre-rolls could overtake flower as the top-performing category in the coming years.
The U.S. market mirrors these trends, with research ranking pre-rolls as the third most popular category from June 2023 to June 2024. Pre-rolls also saw the largest increase in sales revenue among all categories during the same period, with an 11.89% jump year over year. Pre-rolls also experienced a major market share increase, from 13.2% January 2023 to a record-high 15.9% in June 2024.
It’s a given that pre-roll flower quality and freshness should be top of mind, but your cone material is far from insignificant. The future as a whole is moving toward hemp, cones included. Hemp is a solid alternative helping cannabis businesses stand out and appeal to the growing number of consumers prioritizing sustainability. Its many eco-friendly attributes shine, but hemp pre-rolls can also make for a superior smoking experience.
Hemp Origins
If you’re involved in the cannabis industry, you’re already familiar with hemp.
We often think of hemp as it relates to cannabis, producing cannabinoids and terpenes with lower THC yields. Many consumers recognize hemp through the modern hemp-derived cannabinoid industry. That’s only one piece of a much more expansive story.
As humans, our relationship with cannabis and hemp dates back thousands of years. Some studies suggest these plants were around as early as 11,700 years ago in Central Asia. Over time, hemp became an essential resource. They turned to this plant to create fibers for nets, rope, thread, cloth, paper, and other materials.
Looking at re-emerging trends today, it’s evident they were onto something. Globally, we are witnessing the benefits of using hemp as an alternative material once again. Aside from its resistance to wear and tear, it’s much better for the environment than synthetic materials.
Its popular medicinal and wellness uses are clear, of course. As we forge ahead into the future, it’s an opportune time to revisit the broader application of hemp in our modern world.
Eco-Friendly Benefits of Hemp Papers
Hemp is gaining traction as an eco-friendly alternative, and pre-roll manufacturing is no exception.
Recyclability
Using hemp paper lowers environmental impact due to its recyclability. While tree paper can only be recycled three times, hemp paper can up to seven times. A single batch of hemp paper also uses less energy than other options. Because it’s reused more frequently, hemp paper reduces the need to produce fresh batches.
Less Deforestation
Producing tree paper can have major impacts on deforestation. Deforestation is devastating for animals in forest environments. It also harms the planet and can cause trees to produce less oxygen. While trees are turned into paper after decades of life, hemp can be harvested in as little as 90 to 120 days. Hemp also has higher yields, requiring less land area to produce hemp paper.
Less Pollution
Hemp production also comes with lower pollution impacts. It requires less water, and it doesn’t require bleaching with chemicals like dioxin or chlorine used in paper mills. While chemicals are needed to separate hemp fibers for the lignin, they’re less toxic and contaminating to the environment.
Absorbing CO2 and Replenishing Soil
Hemp can absorb more CO2 compared to other options, with twice the efficiency at absorbing and retaining carbon than trees. Planting trees or other crops can disrupt the soil, causing issues for other plants in the future.
On the other hand, hemp replenishes the environments it grows in. If that’s not enough, they enhance water infiltration and promote microbial life. When businesses use hemp paper combined with production tools like a cannabis pre-roll machine, it’s a win-win for efficiency.
Other Benefits of Hemp Paper
If the green qualities aren’t enough, there are a few more perks to using hemp in your pre-rolls.
Less Chemicals to Produce
As discussed, chemicals used for other papers are an environmental concern. The chemicals used for hemp paper production are also less harmful for:
- People who live nearby
- Workers
- People who smoke joints packed in hemp cones
Durability and Longevity
Hemp’s sturdy fibers create a strong paper for your pre-rolled joints. When it comes to pre-rolls, hemp paper burns at a slower rate than traditional papers and other alternatives. Other elements like joint packing and lighting up properly surely come into play. Ask around, and you’ll also find that many flower fans turn to hemp cones for an overall smoother burn.
Hemp Cones for Your Cannabis Business
Running a cannabis business comes with a dizzying number of considerations. You’re navigating operational concerns, grow facilities, and plenty more on a daily basis. Thinking about the paper you use for your pre-rolls may not be top of mind.
Hemp cones are a responsible choice to reflect your brand ethos and elevate your pre-roll quality. It’s a simple change for cannabis businesses and manufacturers, though it can make all the difference in the long run.
While making the switch can be an adjustment, you aren’t in this alone as a cannabis professional. Leave the leg work to the pros to keep your time and energy focused on those other important facets of navigating the cannabis world.
Treef-Er is a community of passionate collaborators dedicated to providing cannabis manufacturers with high quality, thoroughly-tested cones. We recognize how the material can make or break your pre-roll selection.
Our business centers ethical production with innovative automation. We’re in this together, aiming to give professionals easy access to premium cannabis cones. Treef-Er services come with a focus on sustainability and efficiency, all tailored to support the growth of your business.
We value transparency and trust in every partnership. We’ll work with you to find which cone options work best for your business needs. And if you’re in need, don’t hesitate to ask about the packaging options and automation solutions of our sister company, PreRoll-Er.
Our team is equipped to tackle the manufacturing needs to keep your operations running smoothly. While you can explore our offerings online, don’t hesitate to contact us. Let’s discuss your unique business needs and the Treef-Er solutions built to meet them.