The Top 10 Cannabis Marketing Moves of 2022

Cannabis brand Ayr Wellness latched onto Mother’s Day by using images that could’ve been marketing spa packages or weekend getaways. But the language–“Canna mom escape? She’ll THC-you later”–made clear the kind of self-care product on sale. Popular social tonic Cann, meantime, continued to spar with Big Alcohol in a short film for the holidays showing…

Cann’s Darkly Comedic Holiday Ad Shows a Family Gathering Saved by Weed Soda

This recipe for disaster contains the following ingredients: disparate family members contained under one roof for an extended period, high-stress rituals like gift-giving and formal dining and copious amounts of alcohol. Shake vigorously, and the result is as explosive as it is predictable. Cann, the top-selling weed-laced soda with an A-list celebrity following, uses its…

Cannabis Edibles Move From Kids’ Table to Honored Guest as Holiday Sales Bust Records

Popular edibles brand Kiva Confections, in an “off the wall” experiment, launched a first-of-its-kind seasonal product back in 2019–a THC-spiked gravy to go with cannafans’ Thanksgiving turkeys. The savory sauce not only lit up social media and the national press–late night’s Stephen Colbert even did a segment–it sold out immediately. Granted, it was a limited…

MJBizCon Sessions Indicate That Despite Its Issues, the Cannabis Industry Isn’t up in Smoke

Cannafans in Oregon will drive miles out of their way to find the best deals on flower, tinctures and vapes, but New Yorkers aren’t so price sensitive. Those weed consumers care more about online ordering, though, which ranks at the top of their list for dispensary consideration. Buyers in Florida, meantime, will skip a retailer…

Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out? Edibles Campaign Looks Low-Key Trippy but the Goodies Are All About Productivity

If a cannabis marketer uses groovy, psychedelic images–think flower power and candy colors–it may bring to mind Woodstock-era bacchanals with a “turn on, tune in, drop out” vibe. A new campaign from Canyon THC has purposely co-opted the look of that acid trippy period, but flipped the carefree Summer of Love notions on their heads….

Awareness Isn’t Cutting It for Cannabis Anymore

Today’s cannabis retail landscape–defined by striking consumer brands and increasingly mainstream marketing strategies–is nearly unrecognizable compared to the industry’s earliest innings. However, as more adult-use states reach a point of market saturation, cannabis brands must learn to holistically reach their target audiences to maintain and grow market share. On the surface, industry sales appear to…

Green Rush Advances With 2 More States Legalizing Cannabis

Some prominent leaders in the cannabis industry said they would have considered it a victory if even one state had legalized recreational weed sales during Tuesday’s midterm election. As it turns out, two did, with cannabis continuing its steady expansion across America, making further inroads on the East Coast and in traditionally conservative strongholds. While…

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Goes From Multi-Hyphenate to Multi-State Operator in $185 Million Cannabis Deal

Sean “Diddy” Combs, adding a new pillar to his music, fashion, media and booze empire, becomes the latest celebrity to wade into the $27 billion American cannabis industry, but with a plan far more comprehensive than dropping a branded flower strain. Combs will acquire retail, growing and manufacturing facilities in Illinois, New York and Massachusetts…

The Psychedelic Renaissance Continues as Colorado Votes on Legalizing Magic Mushrooms

Colorado, a pioneer in recreational cannabis sales, could make history again next week if voters pass the Natural Medicine Health Act during the midterm election. Proposition 122, placed on the ballot after advocates gathered 100,000 more signatures than required, would legalize psychedelic drugs like mescaline and psilocybin, better known as “magic mushrooms,” for medical use….

My Agency Has a Monthly Cannabis Stipend. Yours Should, Too

Like everyone else on Earth, during the first few weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic, I was in a very bad way. Just like so many of us, aside from first responders and healthcare and essential workers, I was shut away at home, wiping down grocery deliveries and breathing through an improvised cloth mask. But I…

Gas, Lotto, Beer…and Weed? Cannabis Is Coming to Circle K’s in Florida

Quick stops at convenience stores often mean buying gas, lottery tickets, beer, cigarettes and snacks, which are consistently among the best-selling items. But a major cannabis player wants to add weed to that shopping list via a newly inked deal with Circle K in Florida. Green Thumb Industries, a Chicago-based multistate operator, plans to open…

Take Me Out to the Dispensary: MLB Scores Marketing Deal With CBD Brand Charlotte’s Web

Sneakers, snacks, beverages and even office equipment have been mainstays of sports marketing for years. But now, Major League Baseball has cracked a new one: cannabis products. MLB scored an alliance with CBD maker Charlotte’s Web this week. The deal marks first partnership between one of the Big Four pro sports leagues and a cannabis…

One Dope Train Ticket: How a Public Transit System Gave Its Riders a Buzz During the High-Stress Holidays

Commuting can be hell, much more so during the end-of-year holiday rush. But what if some of the anxiety could be removed, turning that everyday chore into less of a total buzzkill? To solve a relatable problem for BVG, Germany’s public transportation system, agency Jung von Matt AG created a product no one saw coming–first-of-their-kind…

How Cannabis Brands Can Finish a Difficult Year on a High Note

In the space of three days in late 2021, the cannabis industry in the U.S. brought in north of $290 million, setting records for Thanksgiving Eve–better known in weed circles as Green Wednesday–Black Friday and the Thursday before Christmas, per researcher Akerna. Last year was not an anomaly. Fourth quarter has traditionally been a boon…

Amid an Industry Squall, Is Cannabis Having Its ‘Bubba Gump Moment?’

Mary Jones, the cannabis-spiked sibling of Jones Soda that debuted in June, will soon have its own publication, dropping at dispensaries across California next month. The print project, cleverly named Mary Zine, profiles budtenders–also known as weed retail employees–who are skilled at photography, music and other creative pursuits. The pages also contain do-it-yourself activities and…

Keep the Party Going: PuffCon Builds on the Cannabis IRL Trend With Music and Art Fest

As many as 5,000 people are expected to gather in downtown Los Angeles this weekend to see live a performance from rapper ScHoolboy Q, shop limited-edition merchandise, watch a glass blowing competition and sample dishes from popular food trucks. Entry to the event is free, and there’s no code word or secret handshake required, just…

Off Madison Episode Three: Changing Course With Cannabis

The narrative behind cannabis has shifted tremendously, from being considered a dangerous gateway drug to being one of the fastest-growing modern industries. But who stands to benefit most from this current boom and how do we use this period of reeducation to make the cannabis space more equitable? In episode three of Off Madison, Adweek’s…

Copycat Causes Dogfight: Cannabis Titans Troll Each Other Over ‘Knock Off’ Brand

When the cannabis brand Dogwalkers launched in 2016, it was billed as the perfect mini-joint to smoke while taking a stroll with a four-legged friend. The inspiration for the product–a Poodle mix named Bailey–was even pictured on the packaging. The premium pre-rolled weed has since become a hot seller, now available in seven states–Illinois, New…

Mini Woodstock and Mexican Wrestling: Cannabis Retailers Go Big to Boost Traffic

There’s a mini Woodstock in the works for next summer–featuring food vendors, local artisans and immersive activations–with a headlining performance by Grammy-nominated rock band Queens of the Stone Age, which will be dropping its first new record in two years. Organizers are looking at the tiny Midwest town of Sauget, Ill., and its 6,000-seat minor…

Cotton Candy, Corndogs and Cannabis: California State Fair Adds First-Time Weed Contest

Past winners in the California State Fair’s food and drink categories have included Granny’s Famous Applesauce, Bohemian Viking homemade brew and Tomatillo Goddess jam. But when the doors open this Friday for the first time since 2019, the popular event will feature consumables of a different kind, with names like Laughing Gas, Lemon OG, Buddha’s…