Most shop owners don’t want to hear this, but I’m going to say it anyway:
There is no single product that will replace intoxicating hemp.
Not one.
Not Delta-9-lite, not hemp “alternatives,” not loophole cannabinoids.
Not one.
Not Delta-9-lite, not hemp “alternatives,” not loophole cannabinoids.
That era is over.
If you keep searching for “the next Delta-8,” you’re going to waste time, lose money, and fall behind the owners who already pivoted.
The owners who survive this next wave aren’t the ones who find a new magic product — they’re the ones who build a multi-pillar revenue system that no law can wipe out.
This blog walks you through the five strongest categories that will replace intoxicating hemp revenue in 2025, how to roll them out, where to source them from UNSWholesale.com, and how to educate your customers so your sales don’t skip a beat.
Let’s get into it.
1. BOTANICAL LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS (THE FUTURE OF “CHILL” SALES)
If intoxicating hemp was the “hype train,” botanical lifestyle products are the long-term wellness train — and they’re legal, stable, and profitable.
I’m talking about:
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Blue Lotus
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Herbal blends
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Relaxation botanicals
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Kava/Kanna type alternatives
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Non-hemp functional chill products
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Smokeable botanicals
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Mood-support herbals
Customers still want relaxation, relief, sleep support, mood smoothers — that demand doesn’t disappear.
Only the hemp-based supply disappears.
Only the hemp-based supply disappears.
✔ Where to Get Them:
UNS Wholesale → Blue Lotus Products
https://unswholesale.com/blue-lotus-products/
Blue Lotus Product Category
https://unswholesale.com/blue-
Blue Lotus Product Category
These products are fast-moving, high-margin, and don’t carry intoxicating-hemp risk.
✔ Why This Category Replaces Hemp Effectively
• Same customer demographic
The same people who bought Delta products buy botanicals.
The same people who bought Delta products buy botanicals.
• Similar “experience-based” sales process
Customers are used to “feeling something.” Botanicals deliver calming effects legally.
Customers are used to “feeling something.” Botanicals deliver calming effects legally.
• Strong repeat buyer potential
Botanicals become lifestyle habits.
Botanicals become lifestyle habits.
• No federal target on them right now
This gives you room to breathe, room to grow, and room to build loyal buyers.
This gives you room to breathe, room to grow, and room to build loyal buyers.
✔ Customer Script for Staff
“These are non-hemp botanicals that people use for calming, stress support, and sleep. They’re natural, legal, and a lot of customers are switching to them.”
Teach your staff this script TODAY.
✔ How to Merchandise It
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Put Blue Lotus and botanicals in the “premium lifestyle” section.
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Use soft lighting, clean displays, and calming color signage.
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Create small educational cards or QR codes leading to info pages.
✔ Profit Expectation
Margins on botanical lifestyle items run 2.5x–4x, depending on SKU.
This category stabilizes stores that lose hemp.
2. KRATOM — STILL A POWERHOUSE WHEN DONE CORRECTLY
Forget the old stigma.
Forget the taboo.
Forget the misinformation.
Forget the taboo.
Forget the misinformation.
Kratom is one of the strongest, steadiest, most profitable categories a smoke shop can carry — when done right.
Capsules, powders, shots — customers buy them weekly, not monthly.
This is recurring revenue on autopilot.
✔ Where to Source It
UNS carries kratom and botanical products inside their diversified catalog:
https://unswholesale.com/shop/
UNS Wholesale Shop
https://unswholesale.com/shop/
UNS Wholesale Shop
Use the search bar and filter for kratom brands you trust.
✔ Why Kratom Works Post-Hemp
• It has its own customer base
These customers existed before hemp. They’re loyal and predictable.
These customers existed before hemp. They’re loyal and predictable.
• People buy based on need, not novelty
That means consistent repeat purchases.
That means consistent repeat purchases.
• Margins are strong
Kratom often carries 2x–3x markups.
Kratom often carries 2x–3x markups.
• Even if regulated, it’s here to stay
States tried banning kratom — customers fought back.
That tells you something.
States tried banning kratom — customers fought back.
That tells you something.
✔ How to Sell It Without Fear
Be clean.
Be educational.
Be professional.
Be educational.
Be professional.
Customer script:
“This isn’t hemp. It’s a traditional botanical that people use for focus, calm, or energy. We carry clean, well-known brands.”
Keep it simple.
Keep it factual.
Keep it factual.
✔ How to Merchandise It
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Keep kratom behind the counter or in a dedicated “premium” shelf.
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Don’t bury it — position it like vitamins in a lifestyle store.
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Display capsules above powders (higher margin).
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Keep shots near the register (add-on city).
✔ Profit Expectation
A kratom customer is worth $40–$150 per week.
Five new kratom regulars = easy $1,000–$2,000 in stable weekly revenue.
3. FUNCTIONAL MUSHROOM PRODUCTS (THE SLEEP, ENERGY & FOCUS TRIFECTA)
No — not psychedelic mushrooms.
We’re talking:
We’re talking:
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Lion’s Mane
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Cordyceps
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Reishi
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Mood/Focus/Brain blends
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Functional gummies & shots
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Adaptogen blends
These are the fastest-growing legal natural wellness category in America.
✔ Where to Get Them
UNS Wholesale → Mushroom Products
https://unswholesale.com/mushroom-products/
Mushroom Products Category
https://unswholesale.com/
Mushroom Products Category
If you’re not stocking this yet, you are late — but not too late.
✔ Why They Replace Hemp Revenue
• Wellness buyers are growing, not shrinking
People want sharper focus, better memory, less stress.
People want sharper focus, better memory, less stress.
• Mushroom supplements have legitimacy
They’re mainstream.
They’re in grocery stores.
Customers feel safe with them.
They’re mainstream.
They’re in grocery stores.
Customers feel safe with them.
• They bring a new demographic into smoke shops
This increases your customer base instead of shrinking it.
This increases your customer base instead of shrinking it.
• High perceived value = premium margins
These products often yield 3x–5x markups.
These products often yield 3x–5x markups.
✔ How to Sell It
Customer script:
“These are functional mushroom blends for focus, energy, or calm. They’re 100% legal, no THC, no intoxicants — pure wellness.”
Boom.
Done.
Done.
✔ Merchandising Strategy
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Create a “Wellness Wall” or “Focus & Calm Corner.”
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Use bright, clean signage (white + green + gold palettes).
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Keep samples or testers if allowed.
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Bundle mushroom + herbal products for dual-category sales.
✔ Profit Expectation
Functional mushroom products can easily create a $4,000–$10,000 monthly revenue pillar depending on your store size.
4. PREMIUM GLASS, WATER PIPES & ACCESSORIES — THE OG PROFIT ENGINE
Let me say this clearly:
Glass never dies.
Glass never gets banned.
Glass never goes out of style.
Glass never gets banned.
Glass never goes out of style.
The problem is that many owners got lazy during the hemp era and forgot how strong the glass market really is.
✔ Where to Get It
Search categories:
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Water Pipes
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Hand Pipes
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Dab Rigs
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Bowls
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Ashcatchers
✔ Why Glass Replaces Hemp Revenue
• It’s evergreen
People always smoke.
They always need a new pipe, a fresh rig, a backup bowl.
People always smoke.
They always need a new pipe, a fresh rig, a backup bowl.
• It has identity and culture
Glass is part of lifestyle — customers connect with it emotionally.
Glass is part of lifestyle — customers connect with it emotionally.
• Margins range from 2x to 7x
Few categories can do that legally and consistently.
Few categories can do that legally and consistently.
• It pulls customers back into your store repeatedly
Glass customers always browse accessories, torches, tips, screens, etc.
Glass customers always browse accessories, torches, tips, screens, etc.
• It’s drought-proof
No legislation wipes out glass.
No legislation wipes out glass.
✔ How to Boost Glass Sales Fast
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Put your newest glass at eye level.
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Improve lighting on water pipes.
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Use clean backgrounds behind premium pieces.
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Stop overstocking cheap glass — go quality > quantity.
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Bundle torches, bowls, or cleaners with every glass sale.
✔ Profit Expectation
A strong glass wall can generate $10,000–$40,000+ per month depending on location.
5. ACCESSORIES, TORCHES, GRINDERS, WRAPS & INCENSE — THE UNSTOPPABLE ESSENTIALS
This category is the retail heartbeat of a smoke shop.
Your hemp may go.
Your vapes may fluctuate.
But accessories?
Accessories never stop selling.
Your vapes may fluctuate.
But accessories?
Accessories never stop selling.
✔ Where to Get Them
Includes:
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Torches
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Grinders
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Butane
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Wraps
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Rolling papers
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Cones
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Trays
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Lighters
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Incense
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Filters
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Screens
✔ Why This Category Saves Stores
• Small items = fast sales
• High-margin add-ons
• Daily-weekly repeat purchases
• Customers ALWAYS need them
• Legislation-proof
• High-margin add-ons
• Daily-weekly repeat purchases
• Customers ALWAYS need them
• Legislation-proof
People who smoke will always roll, burn, cut, grind, light, and scent their space.
This category is your “economic shock absorber.”
✔ How to Sell These Items Better
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Move accessories to the counter area (conversion triples).
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Use small acrylic bins with labels (“$3-$5 accessories”).
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Bundle grinders + papers + wraps as “Starter Kits.”
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Offer 3-for deals on lighters or incense.
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Keep wraps next to the card reader — impulse magic.
✔ Profit Expectation
This category alone can stabilize your store at $15,000–$25,000+ monthly even after hemp disappears.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER — THE 5-PILLAR REPLACEMENT MODEL
Your new model should look like this:
Pillar 1 — Botanicals (Blue Lotus / Herbal Lifestyle)
Target: $5,000–$12,000/mo
Pillar 2 — Kratom
Target: $5,000–$15,000/mo
Pillar 3 — Functional Mushrooms
Target: $4,000–$10,000/mo
Pillar 4 — Glass & Water Pipes
Target: $10,000–$40,000/mo
Pillar 5 — Accessories + Essentials
Target: $15,000–$25,000/mo
That’s $39,000–$102,000/month in stable, legal revenue.
And that’s without hemp.
This is how shops survive.
This is how shops thrive.
This is how YOU stay in business while everyone else panics.
This is how shops thrive.
This is how YOU stay in business while everyone else panics.
**NEED HELP BUILDING THIS MODEL?
THIS IS WHERE CHADWADETV.COM COMES IN**
Here’s what I do for owners inside my consulting:
👉 Full product-mix rebuild
👉 Category-by-category revenue forecasting
👉 Training scripts for your employees
👉 Store layout + merchandising strategy
👉 Pricing optimization
👉 Marketing + customer messaging
👉 Weekly accountability
👉 Survival + pivot game plan
👉 Category-by-category revenue forecasting
👉 Training scripts for your employees
👉 Store layout + merchandising strategy
👉 Pricing optimization
👉 Marketing + customer messaging
👉 Weekly accountability
👉 Survival + pivot game plan
Book your session:
ChadWadeTV Contact/Coaching Page
https://chadwadetv.com/pages/contact
Contact & Coaching
ChadWadeTV Contact/Coaching Page
https://chadwadetv.com/pages/
Contact & Coaching
Your store doesn’t need “motivation.”
It needs a blueprint.
I’ll build it with you.
It needs a blueprint.
I’ll build it with you.
FINAL WORD: STOP LOOKING FOR THE NEXT HEMP — START BUILDING THE NEXT YOU
There is no miracle cannabinoid coming to save the day. But there is a miracle in front of you: Your ability to adapt. You survived regulations before. You survived competition. You survived market shifts. This is just another battle. But this time — you fight smarter. More diversified. More professional. More prepared. Because you’ve got UNS supplying you. And you’ve got ChadWadeTV guiding you.
You’re not going anywhere.
Your store’s survival won’t happen by accident — it’ll happen because you adapted.
👉 Stock your new product pillars at UNSWholesale.com (https://unswholesale.com )
👉 Get your custom survival plan at ChadWadeTV.com/Contact (https://chadwadetv.com/pages/contact )
👉 Get your custom survival plan at ChadWadeTV.com/Contact (https:
Pivot now. Don’t wait. Don’t freeze. Don’t fall.