Selling Delta 8 in the pharmacy can help increase your revenue, profits, and cash.
Interest in CBD products is rising, and customers are looking for somewhere reputable to buy CBD, CBN, and Delta 8 products. I am personally a fan of pharmacies selling CBD-related products because, after all, we are the drug experts! You have the chance to lead your community and be the local expert.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing pharmacist and pharmacy owner Tyler Young of Hines Prescription Shop in Barnesville, GA, about selling Delta 8 in his pharmacy. In less than two months on the shelves, it’s already a big hit. Watch our Delta 8 discussion here, be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
What Is Delta 8?
Delta-8-THC is similar to Delta-9-THC but without the psychoactive effects. Additional common cannabinoids in the dried flower include CBD, CBN, CBG, and THC. Delta 8 falls in a bit of a gray zone of the 2018 Farm Bill, which states CBD is legal up to 0.03% THC. The THC referenced is Delta 9, the typical get high compound we all think of. Because Delta 8 is not Delta 9, though obviously very similar, it is legal. Instead of giving you a psychedelic high, Delta 8 is often calming and can produce significant drowsiness.
Delta 8 Patient Benefits
Patients’ most common benefits from using Delta 8 are better sleep and reducing anxiety.
A target patient would be someone with chronic sleep issues who’ve used OTCs like Benadryl and ZZZQuil, doesn’t want prescription sleep medication, and is looking for a change. Delta 8 can cause drowsiness rather quickly, so it’s helpful for insomniacs.
Other ideal patients are looking for pain management alternatives or adjunct therapy. Once you carry Delta 8, you’ll find a lot of curiosity about it, and some patients and customers will be curious and buy it for that reason.
Getting Started with Selling Delta 8
Education should be your first step because it is hard to sell a new product that you or your staff aren’t familiar with. It is also important as there can be small-time controversy with Delta 8, so you want to be prepared.
Here are some suggestions I think you should follow when considering selling Delta 8 in your pharmacy.
- Do your homework
- Carry a quality product
- Make specific recommendations
- Place smart barriers for purchasing
Do Your Homework
Some state meetings and academies offer educational information, and you can find good information on reputable websites like cannabispharmacy.com, where Tyler purchases from.
They have an informative blog for both patients and providers. You can become a pharmacy partner of theirs and tap into additional benefits.
I also highly suggest you check with your state board of pharmacy or other regulatory agencies. While it seems that if CBD is good in your state, then Delta 8 will be too, it is best to check first.
Carry Good Quality Products
There are various Delta 8 products to offer customers, like gummies, soft gels, and oils. The most common I have seen is the gummies.
Find products you like and then promote the heck out of them, so patients buy it from you – the health expert versus buying it from gas stations or shady websites.
Most pharmacies tend to carry lower doses to help prevent the worry of overdosing. On some websites, they only sell 100 milligrams strength. Tyler explained that once you go over 25 milligrams for most patients, they will really feel it, so keeping lower doses helps control the desired outcome a little better. As you and your patients get more comfortable with the product, you might consider bringing in higher potency options.
Find A Quality Distributor
You can purchase products through Cannabispharmacy.com. If you’d like to work with them, too, see if your state is included. They work closely with you to ensure you get a good quality product and help you understand your circumstances, so you don’t worry about regulatory agencies or have to remove the product from your shelf.
Selling Delta 8: Barriers And Concerns
How you bring it to your pharmacy might negatively or positively impact your reputation.
You might be wondering what your patients will think of you or if doctors will balk at you for selling a somewhat “controversial” product in a family pharmacy. People may even ask if you’re selling illegal drugs. Although taking Delta 8 will most likely cause a positive drug test, that doesn’t mean that many of your patients can benefit from it.
Once you decide to carry it, you can help ease any concerns among patients and your community by laying out policies and procedures. Here are some recommendations from both Tyler and myself:
- Sell only to people over 21
- Limit the total quantities individuals buy
- Offer counseling
- Ask questions – What are you taking this for? Have you taken it before?
- Follow up with buyers, especially when you are first selling it
Don’t be afraid of the pushback. Get prepared and go for it, as Tyler says. It’s the pharmacist’s job to educate the public as much as possible about anything health-related; it’s an opportunity for you to showcase your expertise.
Make sure you’re marketing your new products. Here are some of my favorite ways:
- Social Media (no paid ads)
- Facebook Live Videos
- TikTok
- Educational Posts on LinkedIn
- Bag Stuffers
- Emails
- In-Store Signage
Legal Considerations
Reach out to your state board pharmacy, and if you have a good relationship with your drug inspector, reach out to them too. Some states like GA allow CBD and Delta 8 to be sold under the Farm Bill but trust your judgment and determine if it’s a good fit for your pharmacy.
Making Money With Delta 8
I love the idea of selling Delta 8, mainly because it’s an easy cash transaction, you don’t have to deal with PBMs, and you get to give your patients another option for their healthcare. You can sell Delta 8 at a nice profit margin (think 50%).
Tyler quickly saw an additional $1,000 in OTC revenue from Delta 8. What a great way to make a profit! Even at an extra $1,000 a month, it can make a tremendous impact in the long run. We’re talking at least $12,000 annually in profit, which is a massive amount of cash that you can control.
Your customers will get it from somewhere, so why not you? At your pharmacy, they will be willing to pay a fair price for a guaranteed, quality product—for example, $33 for 30 gummies. The more you can diversify away from PBMs with an OTC supplement, the better your pharmacy will be.
