Marijuana Business Magazine - February 2018

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Cannabis producers are barking for a piece of the $30 billion pet market. Some tips to help you stand out in the pack: • Find out what pet owners are looking for from a cannabis-based supplement. Top sellers in the CBD animal market treat anxiety, arthritis and seizures. • Connect with pet owners through trade shows and message boards. Word-of-mouth referrals are crucial. • Don’t be afraid to call veterinarians about offering your product. Though many vets fear selling supplements that haven’t been approved by the FDA, not all do. Look for vets that specialize in holistic treatments. Remind others that no vet has been sanctioned for connecting pet owners with CBD treatments. • Take a careful look at ingredients. Grain-based fillers and artificial sweeteners may be common in human foods, but some can be toxic to animals. LEASH¬NG THE PET CBD MARKET Many cannabis users have four legs – but cracking the market for pet CBD treatments isn’t as easy as slapping a paw print on a product February 2018 • Marijuana Business Magazine • 73 By Kristen Nichols Y oumay know dogs that need cannabis. They freak out when they hear thun- der or fireworks.They flop pitifully in the corner with arthritis pain.Or they have nasty rashes that don’t go away. It’s a little-known fact that people have been using cannabis products to treat their pets for years. All animals have cannabi- noid receptors, even fish. And cannabidiol products are particularly popular with pet owners because they deliver therapeutic value without intoxication.