Thread by @landforce

More than $5,000,000,000 of marijuana flower will be sold this year in the US. That's $5 Billion with a "B". Just in flower.

But nobody agrees HOW it should be sold....

It's time for a thread 👇👇👇

In states like CA flower sold at retail to consumers MUST be packaged. Thems the rules.

In states like OR it can be sold deli style, and many retail operators prefer this route - it’s what they know.

As legalization sweeps the country, each state will decide how to play it.

Deli style flower is exactly what it sounds like. Large jars of bulk flower. Individual nugs are sold in the amount the consumer wants to buy.

This is the origin story of marijuana retail.

We once had moonshine too, guys.

Packaged flower is also exactly what it sounds like.

Flower packaged air tight in specific weights in mylar bags, jars, or pop tops- ready to fly out the door.

After the trim job, flower is handled and ‘opened’ one time before the customer smokes it.

Purists drool over the truly deli style experience - like a seafood market or vineyard wine tasting.

But weed started in zip locks in the black market: deli style isn’t a connoisseurs dream, it’s hallmark of an immature industry.

The debate affects 3 parties:

The consumer
The retailer
The brand

Let’s start with the easy one: The brand

The bulk flower shelf is where a brand goes to die.

Their logo is never seen again.

Rarely on the shelf. Almost never at home with the consumer. Couldn’t be worse for a brand.

Next.

With Deli style, retailers get to review every nug they buy.

On the other hand:
* Product doesn’t stay fresh
* Loose inventory controls
* 5-10% of A bud lbs end up as shake

The true costs of deli style are brutal...

I estimate every 8th of deli style flower sold costs a retailer somewhere between $1.07 and $2.18 in hidden costs.

-Budtender time: $.13
-Exit packaging: $.15-.50
-Label: $.01
-Shake: $.78-$1.54 (5-10% shake per lb)

This is a big L for retailers and is largely unconsidered.

There‘s a Pro for the consumer though:

You get to open the jar and see specific nugs with the budtender.

Ironically this is the biggest con too, because every customer who came before you was also in that jar smelling that nug.

Think about it.

Pre-pandemic, that seemed crazy to me.

In this climate - should it even be legal?

I doubt it'll last.

The biggest point here is product quality, and that affects everyone.

This is flower. It should be sealed from the jump.

Cannabis’ future is consumer packaged goods. Grocery and convenience stores, not meat markets. Products, not commoditized flowers.

Can you tell where I stand on this?

Our brands sell 100’s of thousands of jars per month, and thousands of bulk pounds. I know both well.

If you’re a consumer, I’d love to hear what you think.

I tweet about building cannabis brands all day. Follow me @lanforce and drop me your email to get em in your inbox: landforce.co/sub

TLDR;

Deli style flower degrades flower.

It’s unsanitary in this day and age.

It’s inefficient for retailers, death for brands, and an archaic unbranded experience for consumers.

We don’t drink moonshine anymore either. :)

The flower vs the jar