Cannabidiol (CBD) is seemingly everywhere these days, in part due to the legalization of industrialized hemp in all states. Hemp-based CBD is incorporated into food products, beverages, edibles, found on restaurant menus, in oils, topicals and much more. Sales of CBD products are expected to exceed $5 billion this year, according to the Brightfield Group, a cannabis-focused research firm. If you’re a CBD-curious healthcare professional, now is the time to grow and monetize your CBD expertise.

CBD: Increasing in Popularity in the Nutrition and Healthcare Fields

Dietitians and other healthcare professionals are touting the health benefits of CBD, noting the positive effects that it has on lessening anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, seizures and inflammation. This alternative treatment may also help regulate blood sugar and aid in bone growth. Given the benefits, and the fact that ingesting or using CBD topically does not result in any “high” (credit goes to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, for this), and you have a product that many are clamoring for.  

Are you interested in incorporating CBD into your private practice or nutrition business? Here are a few solid CBD resources to get you started and expand upon your knowledge. Learn more:

• A recent Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo presentation entitled “Going Green: Use of Medical Cannabis in Medical Nutrition Therapy” explores evidence-based research on the benefits and applications of cannabis use as part of an integrative nutrition therapy plan.
• The Better CBD Nutrition Guide provides guidance from healthcare experts on the quality, dose and use of CBD that helps your client optimize his or her health. There are a lot of considerations to choosing better CBD products; this guide helps you assess and make better choices.
• The Holistic Cannabis Academy Signature Program provides practitioner training programs to get better client results with medical cannabis – while allowing you to grow your practice.

Marketing CBD as Part of Your Service Offering

Your clients will likely start asking you for your recommendations regarding CBD products, brands and more, if they are not asking you already. Be prepared to have those conversations with them. Learn what you can about the industry and various offerings; start with some of the resources listed above.

When you have sufficient knowledge on the topic (i.e. perhaps you complete the Holistic Cannabis Academy Signature Program), market the fact that you are a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about CBD. Share your accomplishment on your website and promote your expertise digitally via your e-newsletters, lead generation pieces and social media. You’ll likely grow your business via both your current client base and via new client leads.

Reach out to various CBD brands that you admire that you want to partner with. Offer to be their health promoter influencer and bring their product samples to your clients. Express interest in serving as an affiliate for the brand and request a portion of sales that you generate. Better yet, use KUcumbers to broker these manufacturer-influencer relationships for you!   

KUcumber Nutrition Communications is here to support your venture into becoming CBD-savvy. Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how to become CBD-literate and monetize your CBD expertise!

Comment below: How are you monetizing your CBD expertise?

Disclaimers: The industry is nascent; be aware that any CBD supplement or product that you or your client may use may not have been vetted by the FDA as the FDA does not currently regulate the supplement industry. Ask questions of the company producing the product to learn about dosage, active compounds, plus any additional components in the product.

The Better Nutrition Program is a KUcumbers client.