Cannabis art is booming on Etsy

Is there an area or industry without a cannabis influence? It looks like there isn’t one, as throughout history cannabis users have demonstrated their creative abilities in a variety of ways. And now cannabis art is thriving on Etsy

Photo by Matthew Henry via Burst

Cannabis users and enthusiasts are some of the most innovative people you will ever meet, and their inspirational artwork has been admired for decades. Also, most of the works created by cannabis enthusiasts have sparked debate for centuries and date from the time of William Shakespeare.

Cannabis and the Creative Arts

Research has shown a fantastic connection between cannabis and creativity, an intriguing relationship that is attributed to the plant’s remarkable properties. Cannabis interacts with the human brain via the endocannabinoid system and receptors in the brain.

Extensive research shows that cannabis use enhances users’ creativity and imagination, allowing for divergent and different thought patterns. Because of this, great men and women like Maya Angelou and Louis Armstrong celebrated the influence of cannabis on their creative careers.

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A larger percentage of the creative industries are also filled with pioneers who have confirmed that cannabis has had a significant impact on their success. For such artists, marijuana inspires the way they hone their craft and present their ideas.

Despite this artistic brilliance, some artists struggle to find a place to showcase their work. Why is that? Why can’t artists showcase their cannabis-inspired art?

The problem of finding a market showcase

Although there is an available and thriving market for cannabis art, most e-commerce websites and platforms prohibit artists from selling art depicting cannabis. Some of these retailers also label items like CBD paraphernalia and insist that such items are not allowed to be sold.

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Because of these limitations, creative artists are not given adequate space to share their creations with the world. Artists feel left out of the market, and then COVID-19 happened.

The coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult for cannabis artists and companies to keep operating, creating a troubling gap in the market.

The solution: A cannabis marketplace

As the challenge grew, two outspoken cannabis advocates co-founded an online marketplace called The Artsy Leaf. Space was set up as a multi-vendor marketplace to give artists the opportunity to exhibit their work.

Co-founders Abbey Weintraub Sklar and Rebecca Goldberg discovered that there were many international artisans, women and artists with products that were not shared on any platform. The artists’ products are one-of-a-kind, cannabis-friendly items that were largely scattered across censored technology platforms that limited their presence in the world.

Goldberg and Skylar recognized the importance of an online marketplace for both suppliers and buyers in the cannabis industry. COVID-19 and the resulting effects were also the inspiration for an online space.

It was originally intended to be an in-person CBD marketplace, but the pandemic has made physical meetings to buy and sell impossible. That’s why the co-founders turned it into an online space with a highly functional website.

The Artistic Leaf

The Artsy Leaf marketplace replaces other online platforms that were too restrictive for the cannabis industry. Some of these unfriendly websites did not provide space to label, describe, and list CBD products, making it difficult for artists to promote their products.

But with the Artsy Leaf marketplace, sellers and small business owners have maximum freedom to promote their cannabis items. The platform also integrates advertising with SEO advice and doesn’t hide their processing fees.

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The co-founders claim that their desire to help all cannabis sellers thrive drives the market. The site was initially launched with 14 vendors and due to its viable operational approach, more vendors are expected to join this revolutionary idea.

What to do with leftover cannabutter weed?

A virtual cannabis marketplace is what the world needs now to bridge the gap between artists and buyers. Cannabis-inspired pieces will always remain relevant around the world because they can be so unique and disruptive. The Artsy Leaf is the right incubation place for ideas, purchases and exchange of values.

The future of the online marketplace

The future of the online cannabis marketplace for artists looks bright, and why is that important? Well, cannabis is gaining momentum in America, as more states legalize marijuana, more people will be able to access weed, and when they do, they may be inspired to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art or one-of-a-kind cannabis-inspired works buy.

RELATED: Does Smoking Marijuana Make People Creative, or Do Creative People Smoke Marijuana?

Either way, the cannabis world needs a way for artists to share their work, and this is where platforms like Artsy Leaf are vital. Other online platforms might start to consider adjusting their policies on this issue as this sector is about to explode.

It’s time to change the current status quo on the other e-commerce sites that don’t allow cannabis artists to showcase their genius.

bottom line

The world recognizes the ever-growing potential of cannabis. Marketplaces like the Artsy Leaf allow cannabis artists and art lovers to meet, interact and support the cannabis industry.

Without platforms like this, cannabis-inspired art will gradually decline, and that’s not good for the cannabis industry at all. We all need to continue to encourage the establishment of platforms (both online and offline) for artists to thrive on. Budding cannabis artists need more places to express themselves and the Artsy Leaf is a suitable platform.

If you’re a cannabis artist, aspiring artist, or a small business owner struggling to promote your work, you can visit The Artsy Leaf.

This article was created in partnership with Cannabis.net