Alaska Cannabis Marketing

As one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis, Alaska has become a trailblazer in the legal cannabis industry, as unlikely as that sounds. This status at the forefront of cannabis policy stretches back at least until the 70's, when Alaska was one of the first states to decriminalize possession of cannabis. As any native Alaskan knows, our state has a proud history of going its own way, and our approach to cannabis and medical marijuana has been no different. Of course, this means that Alaskan cannabis companies face a lot of unique challenges, and with its popularity continuing to grow, business owners who want to achieve success in an increasingly crowded marketplace need to partner with a company that understands the industry and the culture.

The Hood Collective is a digital marketing agency that has focused exclusively on the cannabis industry since our inception more than four years ago. While our initial headquarters was located in Portland, Oregon, one of our founders grew up in Alaska and has always had a great affinity for the state's singular cannabis industry. Alaska cannabis companies that choose to hire us will appreciate our experience working with all aspects of the industry, from legacy growers to leading edge breeders and scientists. Our talented team of graphic designers, videographers, photographers, and drone pilots are recognized as among the best in the industry, and our commitment to providing the best products and customer service make it easy for you to execute on your marketing priorities. Your Alaska cannabis company will excel like never before thanks to our spectacular branding, high def video, and print quality photography.

WHEN DID CANNABIS BECOME LEGAL IN ALASKA?

Not many people outside of the state think about Alaska when reflecting on the history of cannabis policy. But when Alaska decriminalized cannabis in 1975, it was only the second state to take such an action, following California. This was largely made possible by the state supreme court ruling in Ravin v. State. This established that Alaskans' right to privacy also included the right to possess and consume cannabis in small amounts, a landmark case that was the first of its kind. It led to further legislation in 1982, when the government made it legal to possess up to four ounces inside the home and one ounce outside the home.

Sadly, Alaska decided to re-criminalize cannabis in 1990 with Measure 2, which passed with more than 54% of the vote. The state then turned around and legalized medical cannabis in 1998, again making it one of the first states to do so. This kind of back and forth approach to cannabis has been characteristic of the state from the start, and is surely recognized by long-term advocates for the plant in Alaska.

Because of new court rulings in the early 2000's that further codified the right of Alaskans to use and possess cannabis, there was a 2004 effort to legalize cannabis for recreational use, which would have made Alaska the first state to do so. When this initial effort failed, cannabis was dealt another setback with a law re-criminalizing cannabis in 2006. The roller coaster finally came to an end in 2014 (hopefully) when the recreational use of cannabis was approved with 53.2% of voters in favor. In February of 2015, it became legal for Alaskans over 21 to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and cultivate six plants. The law also allowed for the legal sale of cannabis via state-licensed dispensaries, which began operations in 2016.

Alaska became the third state to make the recreational cultivation, sale, and consumption of cannabis legal, following only Colorado and Washington.

WHAT ARE ALASKA'S CANNABIS MARKETING RULES?

In light of the labyrinthine path the state followed to legalization, it's no surprise that Alaska has some of the most detailed rules when it comes to the marketing and advertising of legal cannabis businesses. An examples of one specific rule is that a dispensary may not have more than three signs that are visible to the general public that include the name of the store. Furthermore, each sign must be 4,800 square inches or smaller.

Of course, Alaska has many of the same regulations that can be found in other states. Advertisements cannot be false, deceptive, or misleading. You may not do anything in your marketing to promote over consumption. You are not allowed to include people who are (or look like they are) under 21 years of age, or market in such as a way that it may reasonably be interpreted as appealing to minors. This includes the use of cartoon characters, animations, toys, or the like. There are also strict limitations on advertising in particular locations, such as near schools, parks, or child care centers, or on public buses or other vehicles. Other restrictions include making claims about the efficacy or healing effects of cannabis or the use of giveaways or free promotions.

In addition, all advertising for cannabis products in the State of Alaska must contain the following warnings:

Cannabis has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive.
Cannabis impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.
There are health risks associated with the consumption of cannabis.
For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
Cannabis should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

In Alaska, as we do elsewhere, we recommend that even when the restrictions are more lenient or ambiguous than in other states cannabis marketers follow some industry agreed upon best practices. You can see an overview of these guidelines here. As more states become legal and we get closer to federal regulation of some kind (that moves beyond simply listing cannabis as a Schedule I drug) it is inevitable that more advertising and marketing rules are on the horizon. It's best to get ahead of these changes and promote yourself as a responsible cannabis business owner from the outset.

ALASKA CANNABIS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS

When it comes to documenting the amazing cannabis products of Alaska, you can't beat The Hood Collective's talented team of photographers and videographers. We are strongly committed to supporting Alaska cannabis companies with best in the industry photos and video. This includes the kind of aerial drone imagery of Alaska's natural scenery that can't be captured anywhere else. We have intentionally priced and structured our packages so that they are affordable for small- and medium-sized cannabis businesses and can scale up as you find more success. Our team uses only professional camera and lighting gear, combined with unparelled post production precision, ensuring that all of your marketing content, whether for digital or print, is of highest quality.

Cannabis photography services we offer include:

Cannabis Product Photography
Cannabis Macro And Trichome Photography
Cannabis Indoor Facility Photography
Cannabis Outdoor Farm Photography
Cannabis Team And Staff Photos
Cannabis Event Photography
Cannabis Drone Photography
Cannabis Hemp And CBD Photography
Cannabis Model Photography

The Hood Collective is serious about providing the best video production services the cannabis industry has to offer. This includes our original web series and interview collections, such as Why Cannabis? (On hiatus due to the pandemic, but returning soon). Our team will guide you through the entire production process, from script conception to final color correction. Our productions feature pro-level production gear, including the best in LED lighting, high-definition cameras, and audio recording technology. Best of all, our in-house animation and motion graphics team makes it possible for your videos to feature premium graphics and titles.

Our video production services for the Alaskan cannabis industry include:

Cannabis Promo Videos
Cannabis Informative Videos
Cannabis PSAs
Cannabis Review Videos
Cannabis Web Series
Customer Testimonials
Cannabis Event Videography
Cannabis Live Streaming
Cannabis Animation
Cannabis Aerial Footage

ALASKA PROFESSIONAL CANNABIS GRAPHIC DESIGN

The Hood Collective offers professional graphic design and branding services for the cannabis industry. Thanks to our targeted expertise, you can be sure that our graphic design and branding will help present your company in a professional and compelling manner, without relying on the standard clichés and gimmicks common in the industry. Because of the unique parameters of the Alaskan market, you want to trust your marketing needs to a company that has a deep connection to both cannabis and Alaska. When you partner with The Hood Collective, you'll receive amazing graphic design content for your print publishing, digital marketing, and social media.

Our professional graphic design services include:

Cannabis Logo Design
Cannabis Branding
Cannabis Style Guides
Cannabis Packaging Design
Cannabis Motion Graphics
Cannabis 3D Design
Cannabis Infographic Design
Cannabis Animated Gifs
Cannabis Web Design

WHERE WE OPERATE IN THE ALASKA CANNABIS MARKET

The Hood Collective was founded in the Pacific Northwest, and one of our founders grew up in Alaska. That means the Alaskan cannabis industry has a special place in our hearts. We provide services in the following cities:

Anchorage, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Nome, Alaska
Seward, Alaska
Sitka, Alaska

Don't see your city listed? Don't worry, because we're willing to travel anywhere our customers in Alaska need us, or make arrangements to work remotely, as necessary.

TEAM UP WITH THE HOOD COLLECTIVE FOR YOUR ALASKA CANNABIS MARKETING

The Hood Collective is a proud supporter of the Alaskan cannabis industry. Our goal is to create lasting partnerships with our clients, and we never prioritize our own profits above your success. We believe passionately in the cannabis plant, and we want to help as many Alaskan cultivators, dispensary owners, advocates, and entrepreneurs to thrive as possible. Because of our unique experience in the industry, we're able to provide a level of service and commitment unmatched by rival companies. That's why so many cannabis businesses are turning to us for professional video, photography, graphic design, drone, and audio content.

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