Shopify expands opportunities with CBD, and adds Josie Maran’s Skin Dope

The Canadian-based e-commerce company Shopify made an announcement on September 17 that it would be expanding options in the U.S. It is introducing new features for American retailers of hemp and CBD products, which includes Josie Maran Cosmetics’ Skin Dope.

CBD products have been increasingly popular in both North American and European markets. Consumers can now choose from bath salts to mascara. Josie Maran’s Skin Dope is one of the lines that has been leading the charge into this new arena.

Josie Maran Cosmetics, which was launched in 2007 by the American model and actress it was named after, is noted for its Argan oil-based products. Skin Dope combines Argan oil with CBD and hemp seed oil for a new anti-aging oil that the company touts as a way to get strong, resilient, glowing skin. This line of products was launched in January 2019, and it has proven popular.

The move by Shopify means that CBD merchants in most states throughout the country will now have access to tools including online store design, payment, shipping and marketing. This is an expansion rather than something wholly new for the company. Since cannabis was legalized in Canada at the end of 2010, the company has served as an e-commerce platform for recreational cannabis sales.

The expansion is a potentially significant one for the company given that the CBD market in the U.S. is expected to continue to grow in coming years. It has been estimated by BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research that the U.S. CBD market could be worth $20 billion within the next five years.