Until the day that computers and mobile devices are capable of emitting a scent, dispensaries and cannabis producers must rely heavily on the visual element of their products in order to help them sell. High quality images of the product you are growing and selling not only reflect the quality of your business as a whole, but there is a huge opportunity to stand out among the competition with stunning photographs. It’s not hard to be mesmerized by the aesthetic elements of a beautiful cannabis plant and your customers will equate that beauty to a superior product. Hire a local photographer Un ..read more

According to a survey by Emerging Insider, a content relations firm, marketers throughout North America are split on whether or not they would be open to working with the cannabis industry. The survey of 600 marketers found 43 percent of respondents were willing to take on cannabis industry clients, while 32 percent said they would not be open to taking on clientele in the space. The remaining respondents indicated they would need to check with their company executives. Of the companies who said they would work with cannabis industry operators, 52 percent said they would be so inclined d ..read more

Californians planning to run cannabis businesses under MAUCRSA should pay special attention to the new advertising regulations if they want to connect with customers without attracting citations, fines, or worse. Due to the heavy restrictions, many traditional advertising channels might not be available, so creating a message that resonates with customers will require strategy and ingenuity. 26151. (a) (1) All advertisements and marketing shall accurately and legibly identify the licensee responsible for its content, by adding, at a minimum, the licensee’s license number. Put simply, the ab ..read more

Apple. Nike. Disney. The most famous brands in the world all have one thing in common; their brands are authentic. What does that mean exactly? How can you build an authentic brand for your own company and why is an authentic brand essential in the cannabis industry? Your brand is a way to immediately convey a story, an emotion, or a feeling to your audience. It’s the foundation of your business, the backbone of your company. Having an authentic brand is the most important first step you’ll take in setting the tone for your company — and one of the costliest missteps businesses bring upon the ..read more

Bills have been introduced in both chambers of the Michigan legislature that would ban cannabis advertising on billboards in the state. The measure calls for fines between $5,000 and $10,000 for violations. Under the plan, companies would not be allowed to place advertisements on billboards that promote “the purchase or consumption of, or facilitate access to” cannabis or cannabis-infused products. Under current state law, tobacco companies and “sexually oriented businesses” are not allowed to advertise on billboards. Alcohol companies, however, are allowed to purchase billboard advertising s ..read more

Vireo Health of New York has launched a medical cannabis advertising campaign in New York City’s subway system – the first of its kind from the state’s five licensed producers. The “Ask Your Doctor about Medical Marijuana” ads will appear in nearly 100 stations over the next four weeks. Ari Hoffnung, CEO of Vireo Health of New York, said the ads, which feature four different posters presenting people of different ethnicities and backgrounds, “encourage New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds” to discuss medical cannabis options with their doctors. A collage of the four different advertisement ..read more

Most business owners in the cannabis industry are missing out on a huge opportunity to scale growth, decrease advertising costs, and reach more customers. What’s that opportunity, you ask? Social media. It’s time that we get real, many cannabis dispensaries are failing in their social media endeavors. But the good news is — you don’t have to. The benefits of rocking social media Dispensaries and cannabis businesses that optimize their social media presence can easily reap the benefits that social media has to offer. These perks include the ability to reach more customers on their t ..read more

California lawmakers have introduced legislation to amend Proposition 64 — the voter-enacted initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state — which would impose stricter rules for cannabis advertising, provide a loan for driving under the influence of cannabis research, and permit state trademarks for cannabis products. The measure also aims to clarify rules for cooperatives. Under Assembly Bill 64 “advertising or marketing on all interstate highways or state highways” would be prohibited; however, the measure also authorizes “the use of specified classifications for marks relate ..read more

Citibank has asked a California dispensary that has riffed off the bank’s name to stop using the moniker Citidank – although it’s unclear whether any sort of official cease and desist has been filed. In a back page ad in Coachella Valley Weekly, the Cathedral City-based shop said they cater to “all your danking needs.” “Unless you are as high as a kite, you know that Citi isn’t affiliated with this business in any way and we have requested that they stop using Citi’s name and logo.” – Danielle Romero-Apsilos, a spokeswoman for Citibank, to the New York Post This isn’t the first time a ..read more

Rapper Master P, real name Percy Miller, is releasing his own brand of legal cannabis and vape products called Master P’s Trees, according to a report from XXL. The line will include flower and edibles in addition to a “liquid gold” oil line which is produced with edible-grade, preservative-free oil. “Pioneering the vape movement is what Master P’s Trees is all about. We don’t just want to promote the cannabis industry, we want to shape it in the direction of health, and to promote its health and healing aspects,” he said in a press release. “It’s a forest fire up in here, and Master P’s Tree ..read more