A slowly emerging market allows selling cannabis online in some places. The mere option does not mean people marketing and selling marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes can look forward to obstacle-free operations, though.
Here are six of the top challenges of marketing cannabis online.
1. Major eCommerce brands are staying out of the cannabis industry
Even in locations that have not legalized marijuana, purchasing cannabidiol, also known as CBD, may be an option.
It does not have the same ability to get people high as other components of marijuana, such as tetrahydrocannabinol, more popularly known as THC. The tricky part is that some states and countries legalized CBD but banned THC — or at least products containing more than 0.3 percent.
It's not always possible to confirm the amount of THC in a CBD product. That uncertainty has made brands, including Amazon and PayPal, steer clear of cannabis products for now.
That means that cannabis companies that make their products available online must look for tailor-made options. Some exist to fill the need, but the unwillingness of major eCommerce brands to associate with cannabis companies poses an undoubtable restriction.
2. The inability to advertise cannabis through social media ads
Marketers use social media ads to reach out to their customers. They know how many of them view social media as their go-to place when they're ready to buy things. Social media users often depend on posts from people they know or influencers they respect to guide their purchasing decisions. However, social media companies have cracked down on social media advertising for cannabis products.