Marijuana has been legalized in 33 states; 11 have made it legal for both recreational and medical use and 22 have made it legal for strictly medical use. Basically green is the new black!

And with that green, comes a whole crop of up-and-coming dispensaries. In fact, to date there are close to 2,000 dispensaries in the United States, with new ones opening all the time. Whether they’re fresh or ripe, these shops have to market somehow. That’s where custom merch comes into play!

#1: Lighters

You can’t smoke cannabis without some kind of lighter. The best lighters are either refillable or reusable, like a Zippo or electric arc. Your dispensary’s logo or name will look super sleek on the front.

#2: Rolling Papers

Do you want people to think of your store every time they smoke? Rolling papers are a must! Branch out and think of a design to put on the paper that’s memorable and fun.

See it in Action:  Joking Hazard, a picture game that’s kind of like Cards Against Humanity, offers custom rolling papers with the purchase of their expansion pack. They appropriately renamed this pack “Toking Hazard.”

#3: Grinders

A grinder is meant to break your cannabis into small, easy-to-use pieces. It will be easier for your customers to experiment with new flavors if you offer these at your dispensary.

#4: Multi-Tools

Some folks prefer their cannabis in the form of concentrated oil. Little pieces of this oil can sometimes get stuck to the bottom of a rig. A multi-tool makes it easy to scoop out, so nothing goes to waste.

#5: Sealable Pouches

A sealable pouch is the easiest, and safest, way to travel. This is essential if you plan on sharing your recreational cannabis with friends.

See it in Action:  Med Men, a dispensary in Las Vegas, puts every purchase in reusable pouches. This keeps the smell inside and is also legally required to transport their products from point A to point B.

#6: Containers

Who wants to keep their cannabis in an old chip container or Ziploc bag? Small containers will be used time and time again and can even serve as fun pieces of home décor.

#7: Glassware

Your dispensary can be a big part of weekend parties, especially if you customize glassware, like shot glasses or beer steins, with your logo. Sell them right at your shop for a bit of extra revenue!

#8: Apparel

Hoodies, tees, hats… you want to have all this cool merch in your gift shop. Choose a nice soft material and print your dispensary’s logo right on the front. Boom – you just turned your customers into walking billboards!

See it in Action: Employees at Barbary Coast, a dispensary in sunny California, wear custom tank tops as their uniform. This creates a sense of camaraderie within their store.

#9: Magnets

Your customers might buy edibles from your dispensary and keep them in their kitchen. Magnets will be seen every time they reach for a gummy, brownie, chocolate bar, or cookie. 

#10: Lip Balm

CBD and hemp oil are having a moment. Jump on the trend by customizing lip balms made with either substance. These are a great impulse buy items to keep by your registers.  

#11: Pens

Logo pens are a must at your dispensary. Your customers can use them to sign their receipts or to fill out the information card while they’re in the waiting room. They also can be sold in a gift shop for a little extra revenue.

Final Thoughts

Legal cannabis is a business that’s worth taking seriously. The industry is growing at a fast rate, and many people are excited to see these changes.

The stats about legalized cannabis may surprise you!

• Colorado made $1.2 billion in cannabis sales in 2018.

• According to the Pew Research Center, 52% of Americans have tried marijuana at least once.

• It’s predicted that by 2024, legal marijuana sales will earn $23 billion in the United States.

• 66% of Americans want marijuana to be legal in every state.

There are even more crazy stats and facts associated with the cannabis industry! It seems as though we’re moving toward legal marijuana as a country. The dispensaries that sell these products need to market in order to continue growing (both literally and figuratively). Branded swag, whether it’s t-shirts, pens, or drinkware, is a step in the right direction!

So take note if you’re a new dispensary that’s trying to figure out your marketing strategy. This stuff is super affordable, but can turn you from just another shop to a recognizable brand!

References

Berke, J. (2020, January 1). States Where Marijuana is Legal. Retrieved from, https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1

Statista. Number of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Open in the U.S. as of May 2017, By State. Retrieved from, https://www.statista.com/statistics/754751/medical-marijuana-dispensaries-number-by-state/

Blake, D. (2020, January 6). Marijuana Statistics 2019, Usage, Trends and Data. Retrieved from, https://americanmarijuana.org/marijuana-statistics/

Giger, A., Gramlich, J. (2019, November 22). 6 Facts About Marijuana. Retrieved from, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/11/22/facts-about-marijuana/

Bittert, L. (2019, April 19). Opinion: Here’s What the Numbers Show About the Impact of Legal Marijuana. Retrieved from, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-the-numbers-show-about-the-impact-of-legalizing-marijuana-2019-04-09

Brande, L. Marijuana History and Statistics. Retrieved from, https://drugabuse.com/drugs/marijuana/history-statistics/