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Where will marketing go with marijuana?

by St Pierre
34 replies
Hello all,

So I'm sitting here with my morning coffee watching the news and there has been a string of stories covering the legalization of marijuana. It made me wonder, if it were to be legalized, what type of marketing opportunities would lay behind it? I know that cigarette advertising is restricted but alcohol ads are a really lucrative area nowadays. Will laws restrict advertisers or is there vast opportunity in marketing it since they are treating it more like alcohol? What do you guys think?

P.S. This isn't meant to be some sort of moral battle, just serious thoughts geared towards marketing. I don't want to see any flame wars here. Only intellectually stimulating conversation please.
#advertising #making money #marijuana #marketing #new marketing
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    I suspect that looking at Holland, where it's legal, may provide some reasonable guesses? (As indeed it does on some other questions.)

    I think the only other country where it's legal might be North Korea? That's not going to provide any marketing indications, though, is it? (And maybe Uruguay soon? And a couple of US states, just at state level? Washington and somewhere, is it?).

    I don't believe it will be widely legalized, anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fantastic
    I think it would market itself. No, really.
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    • Profile picture of the author illiptic
      Originally Posted by Fantastic View Post

      I think it would market itself. No, really.
      lol

      But seriously it will be interesting to see what happens when it inevitably does get legalized, the price plummets, and everybodyyy jumps in the business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    Portugal did well with a change on laws back in 2000: Evaluating Drug Decriminalization in Portugal 12 Years Later - SPIEGEL ONLINE

    But you don't see stores selling weed - and you don't see advertising about consumption.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
    Better start buying some domains in advance JK GUYS!

    It would be very interesting to see as I can imagine there would be mixed views on Warrior Forum being full of posts related to increasing sales of marijuana.

    If that would even be allowed, as @FernandoVeloso said above, you never see ads related to drugs of that sort. Even in countries where consumption is allowed.
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    • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
      Haha buying a domain might not be a bad idea:p

      I realize that the countries that legalized it don't have huge ad campaigns. At the same time however, I would imagine America, brewing the huge capitalistic power it is, would treat it much differently. Especially since people are starting to accept it and becoming more desensitized to its effects.

      It probably will take a lot of time to legalize there is no doubting that. But I like to imagine that if it does, they will run advertising campaigns for it similar to that of alcohol. Who knows, cheech could become pots equivalent to the dos Equis guy :p If this did happen, it would be a lucrative business to immerse yourself in and jumping on it in it's early development could give you an advantage.

      This is all just my hopes of course, it may never even happen
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
    Already bought some good ones Just kidding.

    If it were ever to legalised on a large scale like you say @StPierre, would you want to be associated with it?

    Just because the law says it's okay, I think it would take a lot longer for society to accept it and being associated with it could give you a bad name
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  • Profile picture of the author Adie
    Will be a profitable niche. I think it's easy to market especially in most male community websites.... facebook would be a better place
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Looking at the states in the US where it is legal, I think you'll see two levels of marketing.

      The base will be for users, specifically novelty type items like pot candy, etc. There will also be pot tourism, both recreational and medical. It will take a while before it will be mainstream and you'll see "this bud's for you" ads.:p

      There will also be a rush on providing the stuff. A new boom in "how to get rich growing pot legally" products and courses. Seeds. Equipment. Marketing advice.

      If pot is ever legalized on a national level, invest heavily in companies that provide fast food and bagged snacks.
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      • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
        It is unfortunate that mainstream legalization may not even happen in our lifetime. But it is an exciting thought to entertain. I'm sitting here at work thinking of different headlines, "this bud is for you" was a good one

        I wonder if fast food businesses would advertise their products to appeal to marijuana users if it were legalized.
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      • Profile picture of the author serryjw
        John, I am in Colorado and print MMJ advertising, to the end users, has been happening for years since it was passed. Now that amendment 64 has been passed, the state legislature has blessed it and it will be on our state ballot in November...just a formality. We will see advertising for recreational MJ after the 1st of January.
        There aren't any GOOD MJ domains left...Amendment 64 was not passed in the election, it fell short and had to be 'cured'...which it was!!...THEN every conceivable domain was reg the day it hit the news.
        BTW, MMJ sales is VERY competitive in Denver.
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    • Profile picture of the author datingworld
      Originally Posted by Adie View Post

      Will be a profitable niche. I think it's easy to market especially in most male community websites.... facebook would be a better place
      I don't platform like Face Book will ever allow marijuana advertisements; No matter even if its been legalised by some countries. It will never be legalised by the whole world and so platforms like Face Book won't allow such ads... :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
    I think that anyone that looks down upon it really need to look at it more realistically. If you haven't I strongly reccomend watching one of the many documentaries on Netflix.

    I like to imagine it is going to develop a lot like alcohol did. They had made it illegal but since legalizing it, it has become an accepted part of our culture. That brig said, if it were legalized I wouldn't mind being associated with it since it doesn't cross my own moral standards.

    Just imagine the hilarious opportunities you would have when advertising it. The Super Bowl commercials would probably be top notch.
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  • Profile picture of the author onlineworker11
    I dont know what to say about it if it gets legal the use of Marijuana,Im sorry but I wouldnt promote it anyway
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    • Profile picture of the author AeroBuilders
      I think the promotion of industrial "hemp" is a good alternative. If you look back at the history of "hemp" it has exceptional traditional business opportunities. Hemp is an excellent source of some really good products - I have been looking for good ways to get involved with industrial "hemp" as more people finally learn that hemp is not marijuana.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Bratcher
    Cannabis has been marketed for ages in media which is one of the big reasons why there is a push for legalization in the U.S. You know, that and common sense.

    I expect a lot of local marketing to apply up to the state and regional levels. I don't expect any national drop-shipping businesses to pop up for many years to come. Although, local delivery services are already available in Colorado.

    I also expect there to be intense competition between businesses and lots of marketing dollars up for grabs when the industry does take off. "Now it's not a matter of 'if', it's a matter of 'when'."
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    • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
      Originally Posted by Jeremy Bratcher View Post

      I also expect there to be intense competition between businesses and lots of marketing dollars up for grabs when the industry does take off. "Now it's not a matter of 'if', it's a matter of 'when'."
      That's an awesome way to look at it. Hopefully it will be so Er than later so we can watch it develop.

      If it was legalized, what type of advertising/marketing do you guys think would prosper the most.
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  • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
    Hemp is really an amazing material. The actual cannabis plant also yields many more uses than just smoking. Many people would be shocked at the variety of business that the plant could enhance if it could be grown legally and even subsidized.
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  • Profile picture of the author TylerB
    Well so far my marijuana marketing has been doing good......






    Wait... wut?
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    • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
      Originally Posted by TylerB View Post

      Well so far my marijuana marketing has been doing good......






      Wait... wut?
      Lol. Makes me think of be movie half baked when they advertise their "business" with free samples. What an ingenious form of marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author jeffsolochek
    Originally Posted by St Pierre View Post

    Hello all,

    So I'm sitting here with my morning coffee watching the news and there has been a string of stories covering the legalization of marijuana. It made me wonder, if it were to be legalized, what type of marketing opportunities would lay behind it? I know that cigarette advertising is restricted but alcohol ads are a really lucrative area nowadays. Will laws restrict advertisers or is there vast opportunity in marketing it since they are treating it more like alcohol? What do you guys think?

    P.S. This isn't meant to be some sort of moral battle, just serious thoughts geared towards marketing. I don't want to see any flame wars here. Only intellectually stimulating conversation please.

    From what I hear and understand it's only being legalized for medical usage. People won't be able to just go to the nearest tobacco store and by a pack of joints. So I belive you will need a presciption to get it and I myself don't see any great marketing money makers with this. Just my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheSalesBooster
    I actually don't think it will go the same route as alcohol. If it ever does get legalized I think it's going the route of cigarettes. They won't be able to advertise it on TV and most advertising venues.
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  • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
    Actually it is recreationally legal in two states. Many states are starting to accept it medically, which is the first stepping stone in it becoming legal. It will definitely take a lot of time for a national legalization though.

    It would be senseless for them to treat it like cigarettes and not advertise. There are many political officials that have acknowledged the fact that it is safer than alcohol. With the amount of booze campaigns in circulation it would seem hypocritical to suppress advertising.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by St Pierre View Post

      It would be senseless for them to treat it like cigarettes and not advertise. There are many political officials that have acknowledged the fact that it is safer than alcohol. With the amount of booze campaigns in circulation it would seem hypocritical to suppress advertising.
      Since when has a little hypocrisy bothered your basic politico?

      Much depends on whether the district is red or blue as to how cool they will be with a purple haze...
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    How to market MJ will be mostly up to how it is regulated. For now here in Colorado, I'll go with social, SEO, email lists, ads in MJ related publications, word of mouth, frontal marketing (a sign on your shop) and Craigslist:

    denver all for sale / wanted classifieds "mmj" - craigslist
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  • Profile picture of the author St Pierre
    It must be cool to live in CO and experience that. And John, you have a pretty valid point. what was I thinking when I put expectations against political hypocrisy haha.
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  • Profile picture of the author MagneticKopy
    I'm just waiting for the cannabis clubs to start allowing affiliate marketing LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author ParkerFar
    I bet the marketing opportunities will be huge. I can only imagine the affiliate possibilities...

    Sure to be lots of restrictions and limitations on advertising from the feds. Given the various uses ie medical, recreational, textiles one has to wonder how big the market will be. And then there are info products...

    Crazy!
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  • Profile picture of the author petelta
    Originally Posted by St Pierre View Post

    It made me wonder, if it were to be legalized, what type of marketing opportunities would lay behind it?
    I did $30k this year so far in selling guides on how to grow at home, how to start your own dispensory, how to cook with it, etc.

    I live in Tennessee where it's not legal yet.

    Just saying, don't wait for it to become legal everywhere. This market is hugely profitable especially since it's a nice viral niche that goes well with things like Facebook.

    A guy named Jeff Hampton launched a product on how to sell in this niche not long ago. I think it's called "Chronic something"...

    Travis
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    • Profile picture of the author mrozlat
      Originally Posted by petelta View Post

      A guy named Jeff Hampton launched a product on how to sell in this niche not long ago. I think it's called "Chronic something"...
      Chronic Revenue |
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    • Profile picture of the author illiptic
      Originally Posted by petelta View Post

      I did $30k this year so far in selling guides on how to grow at home, how to start your own dispensory, how to cook with it, etc.

      I live in Tennessee where it's not legal yet.

      Just saying, don't wait for it to become legal everywhere. This market is hugely profitable especially since it's a nice viral niche that goes well with things like Facebook.

      A guy named Jeff Hampton launched a product on how to sell in this niche not long ago. I think it's called "Chronic something"...

      Travis

      Did you create your own product?

      Just curious.
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