Tag: Featured Story

Cannabis cultivators often celebrate yield, but volume alone doesn’t guarantee profitability. Many grows unknowingly scale losses because key expenses — overhead, indirect labor, and material consumption — aren’t accurately tracked. When cost visibility is missing, even high-performing strains can drain margins. In today’s tight market, operators need precise cost intelligence, not guesses. Knowing the real cost per gram helps cultivators eliminate waste, refine their product mix, and build a more resilient, profitable operation.

As cannabis markets evolve worldwide, operators are leaning on automation not just to boost efficiency but also to strengthen culture. From Canada’s GMP-driven systems to Germany’s early adopters and Latin America’s export-focused producers, global peers reveal a clear reality: Manual systems can carry a company only so far. Here's how equipment, flexibility, and people-first training help manufacturers scale sustainably without losing their identity.

From gourmet sauces to mochi gummies, today’s hemp-derived edibles go far beyond standard gummies and chocolates. This curated roundup highlights innovative, gift-worthy products that appeal to foodies, wellness shoppers, and holiday hosts looking for something fresh, functional, and fun.

Acquisition addiction is eating into cannabis margins. Brands spend heavily to win first-time buyers, only to start over again next month. By centering customer lifetime value (CLV), marketers can shift from one-and-done transactions to profitable, long-term relationships. Here's how to use CLV segments, first-party data, and compliant programmatic media to increase purchase frequency, lower effective CAC, and turn your best customers into loyal advocates.

Since its 2021 debut, Blunt Brunch has grown from a 50-person meetup into a national women-led movement reshaping cannabis industry networking. Founders Adelia Carrillo and Parisa Rad have built an empowering community where authentic connection leads to mentorship, partnerships, investment, and lasting friendships.

A new national survey reveals cannabis consumers value digital convenience, personalized recommendations, and knowledgeable budtenders — especially heading into Green Wednesday, one of the year’s biggest sales days. The findings highlight demand for features like online ordering, one-click rebuys, loyalty incentives, and promotional deals. Retailers that blend smart technology with strong customer service appear best positioned to drive repeat visits and larger baskets.

Certificates of analysis (COAs) are widely treated as the gold standard of cannabis ingredient quality, but they don’t always tell the full story. Many reveal only what the lab was asked to test for, and labs have powerful incentives to report favorable results. The result is a quiet but growing crisis of inconsistency, reformulations, and lost consumer trust.

Cannabis beverages are stepping into the spotlight while alcohol consumption rapidly falls as Americans rethink their drinking habits. A new report forecasts U.S. cannabis drink sales will reach $2.8 billion by 2028, growing nearly seven times faster than alcohol. From infused seltzers to low-dose tonics promising relaxation or recovery, innovation is bubbling across the category as health-conscious and budget-minded consumers seek alternatives to traditional beer, wine, and spirits.

In a category shaped by state lines, restricted visibility, and heavy competition, even experienced operators fall into predictable traps. From misunderstood audiences and underleveraged PR to packaging misfires and unrealistic growth expectations, these blind spots quietly erode market position. Here’s how to spot them early and fix them before they cap your brand’s potential.

Overreliance on fragile social platforms can leave brands exposed. The most successful operators pair paid media with resilient distribution channels they own or co-own, creating reach that survives policy shifts and algorithmic shutdowns.