With every new legal market that comes online and every new dispensary that opens in your vicinity, you face increased competition for customers. So, how do you stand out from your regional and national competitors? 

One way many small businesses gain an edge is by building a robust brand and promoting it heavily on social media through ads and posts. But navigating cannabis-related social media is tricky and filled with roadblocks and confusion. Social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter specifically—don’t hesitate to block ads or deactivate accounts whose posts violate their terms and conditions. For example, Facebook’s Advertising Policies state, “Ads must not constitute, facilitate or promote illegal products, services or activities,” and, “Ads must not promote the sale or use of illegal, prescription, or recreational drugs.” These platforms don’t care whether cannabis is legal in your state or not; they view it through a lens of federal prohibition, meaning they can flag anything relating to marijuana as a violation of their policies.