Features
When it comes to marketing, cannabis is different from every other consumer good available today. If sales start to dip in traditional retail, you can simply increase ad spending. However, with companies like Google, Meta, and even traditional broadcasters placing strict bans or severe limitations on cannabis advertising, the standard “pay-to-play” system just doesn’t work.
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While Trump carried all seven swing states and the popular vote, the red wave that swept him into office also delivered a stinging rebuke to drug reform advocates. Legalization efforts in both Dakotas as well as Florida failed, and Massachusetts rejected a measure to make psychedelics great again.
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The federal government and e-cigarettes can’t seem to get along. Like two cats fighting, it’s mostly terrible noises and ridiculous posturing with extended pauses between any actual bouts of scratches and bites. Yet something about a recent dustup seems to signal the feud has reached a new intensity.
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Despite claims that “vice products” are recession-proof, there are real consequences for smoke shop owners who make bad predictions. And while American consumers may reach for the bowl more often during market downturns, the industry has more to fear than macroeconomic conditions.
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Before you invest your nest egg into reviving a sinking business, it pays to think through a few things first. After speaking with more than a dozen past and current smoke shop owners across the country, we’ve compiled the pearls of wisdom that stood out most for your edification and entertainment.
Nicotine pouches have made a comeback, with all the innovations, influencers, and creativity to keep up with popular culture.
Legalization in our country goes further than states simply writing their own scripts—it’s a saga with cameos from all over the globe as countries shake up cannabis laws and give American politicians considerations to allow We The People our own pursuits of happiness.
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As the year wraps up, we’re turning the spotlight up to 11 and dropping our list of the Top 25 Products of the Year. These aren’t just the usual suspects—we’ve dug deep and brought the best of the best in smoke shop accessories and alternative supplements.
Jerome is the owner of three Los Angeles California-based smoke shops. We sat down with him to get his insight on the highs and lows of owning a smoke shop in 2024, including top selling-products, and how to stay profitable and successful in these uncertain times.
To help our readers navigate the trends and make informed decisions, we’ve turned to industry expert, Alfred Viggiani, the creative director and marketing consultant at Advantage Marketing Solutions.
Our fearless intern and ever-stalwart production assistant went full Gonzo at the 420 Expo in Edison, NJ this past fall to find out what cannabis consumer culture looks like in 2024. His findings may shock you (actually, they won’t.)
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Lessons in content creation from a show about hicks and hockey bros.
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As HQ Magazine celebrates its 25th anniversary, we’d like to take a moment and reflect on a journey that began in 1999 when Roger Kay and Ralph Garza envisioned a publication that would unite, solidify, and empower what had traditionally been a fragmented market.
