The CBD vape market is entering a more mature stage. The easy-growth period is largely over, but vaping remains one of the strongest formats across the broader cannabis market.
So the question is no longer simply whether CBD vaping has demand. The more important question is:
What kind of vape products will continue to grow?
- Vape remains a major cannabis category
California provides a good example of the trend.
According to California Department of Cannabis Control data, annual licensed vape sales increased from $889 million in 2020 to $1.43 billion in 2023. By July 2025, vape products had become California’s largest licensed cannabis category, generating $117.8 million, slightly ahead of flower at $113.2 million. By December, vape sales reached $124.4 million, almost $17 million above flower.
This doesn’t mean all of that growth is CBD. Most of the legal cannabis vape market is THC-focused.
But it clearly shows that consumers continue to prefer portable, convenient vaporization formats.
- CBD is becoming a more competitive category
CBD consumers now have far more choices than they did several years ago:
● CBD
● CBG
● CBN
● Delta-8
● Delta-9
● THCA
● Live resin
● Other cannabinoid blends
As a result, simply putting “CBD” on a vape is no longer enough.
Brands increasingly compete on:
Flavor + formulation + hardware + consistency + testing + branding.
- Hardware is becoming part of the product
One of the biggest changes I see is that hardware is no longer just a container for oil.
Consumers notice:
● Draw resistance
● Vapor production
● Battery life
● Leakage
● Clogging
● Flavor consistency
● Preheat performance
● Device design
A good formulation can still fail if the hardware performs poorly.
This is especially important as brands move between different oil types. Distillate, live resin, rosin and other formulations can have very different viscosities and heating requirements.
There is no universal “best” vape hardware.
Oil + hardware compatibility is becoming a much more important part of product development.
- Disposable vs. 510
I don’t think the market will have one winner.
Disposables offer convenience, simple user experience and strong branding opportunities.
510 cartridges offer flexibility, reusable batteries and a more established ecosystem.
We may increasingly see:
Disposable = convenience + branding
510 = flexibility + repeat users
Rechargeable AIO = premium middle ground
- Better heating matters more than higher power
The next generation of vape hardware shouldn’t simply focus on bigger batteries or higher output.
The more important questions are:
● Is the heating consistent?
● Is the oil compatible with the coil?
● Is airflow optimized?
● Does preheat actually improve performance?
● Can the device minimize clogging and leakage?
● Can the battery deliver consistent power?
Ceramic heating, adjustable voltage, controlled preheat and improved airflow are likely to remain important areas of development.
- Regulation could reshape the hemp market
Another major factor is regulation.
Federal hemp rules are scheduled to change on November 12, 2026, significantly tightening the definition of qualifying hemp products and restricting certain intoxicating cannabinoid products. The exact impact is still being debated, and some states are also developing their own responses.
For hemp-derived cannabinoid brands, this could mean:
● Reformulation
● Lower cannabinoid concentrations
● New product categories
● Moving into state-regulated cannabis markets
● Exiting certain markets
For hardware suppliers, formulation changes also matter because different oils can require different heating systems.
- Where is the market going?
My view is that the next stage of the CBD vape market will be less about selling the cheapest device and more about building a better overall product.
The strongest opportunities are likely to come from:
● Better oil compatibility
● Better heating control
● Better leak resistance
● Better battery performance
● Better testing
● Better compliance
● Better consumer experience
The broader cannabis vape market is still very strong, but the market is becoming more selective.
The winners won’t necessarily be the companies selling the most hardware.
They will be the companies that can combine:
Formulation + Hardware + Testing + Compliance + Branding.
That’s probably where the most interesting opportunities in CBD and cannabinoid vaping will be over the next 12–24 months.
Sources: California Department of Cannabis Control; Cannabis Business Times; Headset; U.S. federal regulatory materials.
Posted by Magix
