Now that more than half of US states have legalized marijuana for medical use, new cannabis dispensaries are opening daily. That’s a lot of new businesses jockeying for a share of the market’s attention! But due to marijuana’s federal status as an illegal schedule 1 substance, dispensaries are unable to advertise on most new media platforms. Google, Twitter, and Facebook all restrict cannabis digital marketing. To get noticed in the new cannabis boom, you need influencers to boost your audience and maximize your marketing impact.

Celebrity influencer marketing is a powerful way to market a cannabis brand and could be far more effective in generating interest in your service or product than any of the traditional methods of advertising. A celebrity with an active social media presence and an interest in the subject can do more to increase your market share than a billboard, tv spot or banner ad ever could. It just so happens that there are many celebrities with a strong interest in medical marijuana that have very active social communities. Here are just 8 of those potential influencers.

 

Lady Gaga

Few celebrities are as ubiquitous today as Lady Gaga. Her fan base spans generations, genders and all walks of life. The pop sensation speaks openly online of her support for medical marijuana and her personal use to soothe chronic joint and hip pain as well as PTSD.

 

Tommy Chong

Along with Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong was a celebrity cannabis influencer before the creators of all major social media apps were born. Chong’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds have a massive fan base, all appreciative of his regular engagement. Chong posts photos, shares memes and updates his fans on his health. He famously tweeted in September of 2017 that marijuana had cured his colon cancer after years of battle. In Feb of 2018, Chong was listed by the Hollywood Reporter as the third most popular comedians according to social media stats.

 

Snoop Dogg

One of the best examples of the success of cannabis influencer marketing, Snoop’s talent for rhyming turned him into a celebrity. He turned his love of marijuana into his brand. That brand expanded his fan base from hip-fans to stoners and other celebrities like Martha Stewart. After years of sobriety, he began smoking again, this time to combat the painful effects of glaucoma. Today, Snoop is using his social media savvy to draw fans in Colorado and Canada to his line of high-end cannabis: Leafs by Snoop.

 

Whoopi Goldberg

This Oscar winner and daytime talk show host is another celeb that has used her influence to create a cannabis-based revenue stream. She has been vocal for years in advocating micro dosing marijuana to live with the pain of glaucoma, cramps and body aches without getting stoned. Online as well as on traditional media, Ms. Goldberg often talks about “Sippy,” her vape pen which, she deemed saved her life. She is part owner of Whoopi and Maya, creators of cannabis-infused products including tinctures, salves, and edibles in Colorado and California.

 

Rihanna

Ok, so maybe she isn’t necessarily a MEDICAL user, but Rihanna is not shy about her appreciation of cannabis on social media. Whether it’s at a concert, in the pool, at a party or any of a hundred different locations in a hundred different outfits, Riri is regularly photographed smoking a blunt on her Instagram and Snapchat accounts, and she makes no effort to hide it.

 

Melissa Etheridge

The rock star and breast cancer survivor is a proponent of medical marijuana and has been using it since she realized it helped her tolerate chemotherapy. Today, Ms. Etheridge says, she uses it for gastrointestinal discomfort and sleep regulation.

 

Morgan Freeman

Few actors span generations quite like Morgan Freeman. He’s been making movies for decades and has a voice and face that many trusts. He’s also been a vocal advocate for medical marijuana for the better part of a decade ever since a car accident left him with fibromyalgia pain in his left arm. Mr. Freeman insists that the only thing that offers him any relief is marijuana. He is heavily engaged on Facebook and Twitter where he regularly offers political opinions and updates into his daily life.

 

Joe Rogan

Although not a household name, Joe Rogan is a rock star on social media among MMA fans as well as fans of MMJ. The star of Fear Factor turned UFC color commentator hosts three 2-hour long comedic podcasts a week with several million subscribers. Between his podcast and his social media presence (ranked 4th on Hollywood Reporter’s list of comedians on Social Media,) he’s regularly attacking issues of legalization and cannabis’ positive effects on human health. Joe makes no secret about his medical marijuana use, and with his hectic work schedule, he is challenging the stereotype of the lazy stoner.

Expanding your online presence to promote your cannabis business can seem daunting. Thankfully, MMX is staffed with social media experts with many combined years of experience in influencer marketing and a proven track record in the social media arena. Contact us today to learn how we can keep you on the cutting edge of Marijuana marketing.