Weedmaps’ Post

For the final day of #SecondChanceMonth, we share the story of Michael Green, a Cohort 1 Fellow of the Legacy Fellowship Program, who also has been able to clear his record and transition into the cannabis space. Since starting as a budtender, he's been promoted to dispensary agent in charge and shares his journey every step of the way on LinkedIn. To learn about Mike's story, watch the video below!

What a ride! Embarc's California State Fair activation wrapped, and I'm still buzzing. We built a dispensary/museum in the middle of the fair and saw thousands and thousands of people pass through over 17 days. What really stayed with me was the crowd's curiosity about cannabis. Attendees wandered in from art exhibits and hypnotist shows to our cannabis education area. They learned about the plant's history, its effects, and could then buy and consume on-site. We’ve never been able to take a customer on a journey like that before. We met folks who'd never considered consuming, asking wide-eyed questions about everything. And seeing older attendees get emotional about cannabis being normalized hit HARD for me. I have to say, our team knocked it out of the park despite the challenges. Stocking enough product for 17 days was trickier than we thought. And our systems got a real, high-volume, rapid fire workout. But we figured it out together, just like we always do. We showed that cannabis can fit right in at mainstream events. And, we did this in collaboration with our partners at Equity Trade Network (we had dinner in SF last night still talking about how surreal that experience was). In a way, it felt like a glimpse into the future. Alas, no time to get sentimental.... To Outside Lands we ride ✌️ Our team is onsite and ready to kick off our 4th year at this event. This is the first time Embarc is taking a more consumer facing role. We've been working up to this moment and I'm incredibly proud and excited. It's going to be a great weekend. Anyone else going to Outside Lands? #cannabis #cannabismarketing #events #marketing #cannabiscommunity

🌿✨ Peace and Progress in the Cannabis Industry! ✨🌿 I recently came across this fantastic initiative by Michael Serrano, who is connecting young professionals of color with leading farms and processors in NY to bridge the opportunity gap in our industry. This is such an important step towards inclusivity and equity in cannabis! 🙌 Why does this matter? For starters • The legal cannabis industry generated $25 billion in sales in 2021 and is projected to hit $45.9 billion by 2025 l • Despite the industry’s growth, racial disparities remain stark. Only 19% of cannabis business owners are racial minorities • Women and racial minorities hold just 12.1% of executive positions in the cannabis industry, a decrease from previous years It’s essential for us to push for more diversity in all aspects of this field—from retail and cultivation to research and medical use. By doing so, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute, innovate, and benefit from this rapidly evolving industry. 🌱 👉 Check out the @nyscannafarmstour Spread the word within your network to support this initiative. Tune in to their podcast to stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the industry. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable future in cannabis. Let’s make sure that everyone who wants to be a part of this industry has the chance to do so! 💚 #CannabisIndustry #DiversityAndInclusion #CannabisCommunity #OpportunityForAll #Innovation #Equity #CannabisTour #NYCannaFarmsTour

Similar to LGBTQ+ friendly destinations and LGBTQ+ event and conference production, when it comes to modern day B2B and B2C cannabis events, producers are increasingly only choosing destinations that are truly and authentically welcoming, cannabis-friendly, and collaborative. This loyalty to 'friendly' destinations is a travel industry pattern we've seen before with marginalized groups - Damron's Travel Guide for the LGBTQ+ community, The Green Book Travel Guide for the Black Community - it's about destinations offering safe spaces, an inclusive and kind culture, authenticity, and normalization. Cannabis event producers are choosing destinations where the travel industry is willing, wanting, and excited to collaborate in an effort to maximize the positive impact that a cannabis event can bring to the greater community including positive impacts (economic and otherwise) for airports, hotels, local businesses, and residents. The Emerald Cup chooses Oakland as the setting and destination for its 20th Anniversary in May 2024. Visit Oakland The Emerald Cup Tim Blake Applegarth Consultative Services Smart Meetings Morgan Saltz #chooseoakland #cannabistravel #cannabistourism #visitoreconomystrategies #destinationdevelopment #destinationinnovation

learn more about cannabis regulations and the industry in Massachusetts. great job, Comms!

Some reflections on a great week in Las Vegas at #MJBizCon: First, we’re still here. Time after time, I left meetings and chance catch-ups filled with immense gratitude for the passion we have in our industry to legalize and normalize cannabis. I really think this passion unites us as an industry and has kept A-players in the game. It’s been a turbulent last year for many, so kudos to everyone still showing up and working hard to move things forward! Second, an appetite for investing in political and regulatory change is here. I’m encouraged to see us mature discussions on actually achieving a federal win. Also, the 40 Tons Brand cell block and letter-writing campaign highlight a continued commitment to free those currently in jail for cannabis. Lots of work to be done still. Third, the expo floor traffic seemed light. I couldn’t find the exact numbers, but attendance seems to have topped out over the last few years, even as the overall market has expanded. That being said, it was totally worth the investment to be in Vegas, even without a booth. It’s an ideal space to connect with customers, prospects, and partners. Brian Weber, Ross Burtness, Conrad Schwabe, and I covered a ton of ground this week doing just that. Finally, alcohol was out, or at least heavily reduced, for many. It was noticeable how many people I spoke with who voiced that they were avoiding or minimizing drinking. The energy and passion were palpable, and I'm excited for the future we're building together. Let's keep pushing boundaries and making positive changes in the industry! #CannabisCommunity #LegalizationMovement #MJBizCon

Helpful guide for cannabis folks 👇 We’ll definitely be trying to make it out to at least a few of these!

Another important step for the movement to legalize and destigmatize this magical plant. Enabling safe, easy access is our mission. Let’s get it. And anyone for SF? How could I not be as a NorCal native…Rivaling with my 10 year old around this very subject now! #legalize #normalization #access

Great for planning your future marketing efforts.

Shannon Lyon I just posted this morning about how important educating against misinformation is for #cannabis to correct misinformation and remove barriers to access. I firmly believe cannabis is healthcare. Riana Piccirillo and I were talking the other day about how terpenes affect everyone differently. I built off of Tessa Dattalio’s TikTok (link below) and connected with how much I love linalool in pretty much every very form - my favorite perfumes, essential oils, cleaners, etc - and how well it works for me. Transversely, I am allergic to pine, and the worst experience of my life was with a pinene terpene (room spinning, nausea, heart beating erratically, forgetting I could even breathe). I was so uneducated I didn’t even realize I was unconsciously having my body decide for me rather thank taking hold of choices. Even if I could have tried to keep track, this was years ago and I didn’t know about any type of application to help a consumer track my choices and experiences and put the data into understandable reporting formats that would empower me to make data driven decisions. That is why I am so passionate about Tetragram and Otha Smith III . That is exactly what Tetragram does, and more! We never stop learning - knowledge never loses its value. TikTok link (great teaching method): https://lnkd.in/embteyWv