6 Californian Weed Brands That Go The Extra Mile With Merch And Accessories
When I started budgeting in what was then California’s medical marijuana industry in 2015, there were few cannabis “brands” around.
This was before METRC, before Proposition 64 and the tax shortage, and before cannabis entrepreneurs had to rely on much more than word of mouth to make sure their edibles and pounds got off the shelf. Some left the pharmacy staff with free nuggets, a sample of edible here and there, maybe a T-shirt, and a handful of stickers. What an easy time.
But in 2016 it was clear that legalization was underway and that cannabis companies would need branded identities. Some companies like Cookies, Kiva Confections, and Alien Labs did this years in advance.
Consolidation of the merch style
Ted Lidie, co-founder of Alien Labs, recalls how it was back then. His company’s extraterrestrial aesthetic was partly a love of everything related to outer space, but more so, to stand out from the crowd and develop a visual identity for their brand that wasn’t inundated with weed that the the Could carry and carry people on the go if you know, you know.
“I made Alien Labs so I could smoke the weed I wanted to smoke and share it with the people I wanted to share it with,” he says. “We’ve been working on dialing in our merch for several years and our customers really like that. The greatest thing we have in this industry is trust. “
From the perspective of a budget tender
When the pandemic started, I almost began to rely on the regular non-cannabis gifts from sales reps when making their socially distant deliveries. I wasn’t alone. Patients and consumers alike needed high quality devices and paraphernalia to alleviate both their pre-existing conditions and new mental and physical health challenges caused by the pandemic.
And let me say, just because a cannabis brand is handing out the free swag isn’t a good thing. Many a weed tchotchke is given away to friends and family or (unfortunately) ends up in the garbage can because it has more novelty than function.
Now that you know my relative standards, I am excited to reveal to you the cannabis companies in Cali that are doing everything they can to bring you good greens and the accessories and merch to get the most of it.
1. Paradise
There, enamel pins had a stranglehold on cannabis companies for a while. There are some really creative pins these days produced by some other names on this list, but to this day, my favorite pin I’ve ever gotten is a flamingo with glasses smoking a joint, and it’s from a little-known company called Paradiso.
I’m a pastel sucker too, so every time a Paradiso demo or product drop showed up, I was sure to grab a box of matches, a shopping bag, or more lapel pins. I’m also a believer in the paper and tips hybrid package that Paradiso has in abundance.
2. Flow Kana
While there is evidence that indoor cannabis is contributing to climate change, sun-grown weed is still chronically underestimated.
I’ve received an abundance of swag and paraphernalia from sustainable cannabis brand Flow Kana over the years, and I’m not shocked that in 2018 they managed to become the first cannabis company to offer (sustainable, of course) gift boxes for the this year’s Oscar nominees.
I’ve yet to be nominated for an Oscar, but I’ve been using the Flow Kana Grinder, which was given to me many moons ago, almost every day since then, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. I packed my grinder, papers and lighter (sometimes a hemp wick) in their handy stash bags, which I then threw into a branded shopping bag and went about my canna business.
3. Alien laboratories
One of my favorite things about Alien Labs, along with their exemplary pre-rolls and galactic-level flower, is the intent of their branding. Says the brand is an extension of his own love of streetwear fashion and skate culture, Lidie says:
“There are so many different things that go into a high quality garment, and we do the same with our weed as we do with clothing. Everything has to be high-end, because everything [in the brand] is high end. ”
Their wearable merch includes a satirical two-piece set “Krypto Stonks” and some enamel pins that you can identify through a cloud of dabs, even a contemporary capsule collection for Halloween.
My favorite of their offerings are the funky Pelican cases, the glow-in-the-dark rolling tray and, most importantly, their astral Re: Stash glasses.
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4. CannaCraft
Is that a scam? CannaCraft isn’t actually a single brand, it’s an umbrella group of cannabis companies that make everything from THC-V beverages to artisanal chocolates to broad-spectrum CBD tinctures and many smokable and vaporizable products in between.
There is no guaranteed, reliable formula for ensuring the success of a cannabis company, but providing functionally complementary (and complementary) accessories to the masses has yet to prove detrimental.
They offer reusable bottle caps for Lagunitas’ Hi-Fi line, recipes for their artisanal satori chocolates, multi-brand masks, and a variety of bags that aren’t your standard cotton bag.
5. Sessions Supply Co.
If you want to start a session, you have to be prepared, right? It’s hard to be the new kid on the recreational cannabis block, especially in the pandemic era, but I immediately noticed Sessions Supply Co. for its vibrant and consistent branding.
Their buds and dabs are strong yet affordable, and their representatives have been generous with innovative gifts – I’ve received many cannabis-branded water bottles, but my Sessions Hydro Flask is probably my favorite.
6. Houseplant
I know, I know. Seth Rogen is a multimillionaire and there is no excuse that his weed and subsequent line of products are NOT the creme de la creme. But if I’m honest … it’s all cute as hell!
From Houseplants colorful mod design jars for the flower to the non-steal lighters to the gravity bongs and ashtrays found at Pottery Barn, there’s a lot to be said for brands that take the time to make products to be grown outside the greenhouse.
Do you know brands of weed with great accessories and merch? Let us know on Twitter!
Amelia Williams
Freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a longtime budget tenderer and a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program. Williams has contributed to the GreenState of the San Francisco Chronicle, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine, Cannabis Now, and is the author of the Barbary Coast Dispensary’s Bud Blog.
View article by Amelia Williams
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