California Marijuana

Step into a cannabis retail store, and you’ll find one of several scenes. You may see shelves and display cases filled with eye-catching, colorfully branded mylar pouches, paperboard boxes, and glass and plastic jars. Some packaging may even give a peek at the flower inside. In other stores, understated, uniform, opaque packaging with brand names and basic information punctuated by the universal THC symbol create a minimalist vibe that’s not quite Apple-level sophisticated but uses familiar brand names to guide purchasing decisions. These days, you may not even step into a dispensary at all if you can shop from home and have your products delivered in plain outer packaging. All of the above scenarios are equally likely, depending on where you are in the United States. The fractured U.S. retail cannabis landscape creates all sorts of headaches for brands, especially those working to build a strong presence across multiple regions. Add in the pressure of price compression, and it’s easy...