In 2023, Governor Moore signed a bill allowing medical cannabis growers to enter into the recreational space.
“So, from a market standpoint, the market basically doubled overnight,” says Jake Van Wingerden.
Van Wingerden, CEO of Sunmed Growers, says the company was prepared for the growth.
“Flower is the big product, and if you go into a dispensary, it’s about 60% of the sales is flower-based products pre-rolls and those kind of products, then there [are] vapes and concentrates, and then there [are] edibles. It’s about 15% of the marketplace now, gummies, chocolates, baked goods, we’re producing those, but I had always had a vision that we need to get into the drink category.”
That vision led him to create Sunnies Socials, a cannabis-infused sparkling water creating a way for people to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without the negative drawbacks.
The law that legalized recreational cannabis sales in Maryland lets the state distribute licenses for consumption lounges.
Those are bar-like settings where people can consume cannabis in public.