Pubdate: Tue, 25 Nov 2014
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2014 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press
Page: A8

POT RETAILERS ADOPT HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Dispensaries Offer Pot-Laced Foods, Discounts

DENVER (AP) - That's not mistletoe. From new marijuana strains for 
the holidays to gift sets and pot-and-pumpkin pies, the burgeoning 
marijuana industry in Colorado is scrambling to get a piece of the 
holiday shopping dollar. Dispensaries in many states have been 
offering holiday specials for medical customers for years - but this 
first season of open-to-all-adults marijuana sales in some states 
means pot shops are using more of the tricks used by traditional 
retailers to attract holiday shoppers.

Traditional retailers, for example, sell some items below cost to 
drive traffic and attract sales. Recreational marijuana retailers are 
doing the same.

The Grass Station in Denver is selling an ounce of marijuana for $50 
- - about a fifth of the cost of the next-cheapest strain at the 
Colorado dispensary - to the first 16 customers in line Friday, 
Saturday and Sunday. That works out to less than $1 a joint for the 
ambitious early-rising pot shopper. Owner Ryan Fox said his Black 
Friday pot is decent quality, and said he's selling below cost to 
attract attention and pick up some new customers.

As Colorado dispensaries approach a year of being able to sell weed 
to all adults over 21, not just cardcarrying medical patients, Mr. 
Fox said retailers have to do more than just sell pot to get public attention.

Pot shops are using old and new media to tout the sales. One 
dispensary is taking out a full-page "Happy Danksgiving" ad in The 
Denver Post and is inviting shoppers to text a code for extra savings.

Retailers are also jumping on the link between a yen for pot and a sweet tooth.

Many dispensaries this time of year resemble a Starbucks at the mall, 
with holiday spices and festive music in the air. One of the state's 
largest edible-pot makers, Sweet Grass Kitchen, debuted a new 
miniature pumpkin pie that delivers about as much punch as a 
medium-sized joint. The pie joins holiday-spiced teas, minty pot 
confections and cannabis-infused honey oil for those who want to bake 
their own pot goodies at home.

Even some edibles makers that specialize in savory foods, not sweets, 
are putting out some sugary items for the holidays. "It just tastes 
too good, we had to do it," Better Baked owner Deloise Vaden said of 
her company's holiday line of cannabis-infused sweet-potato and pumpkin pies.

Some shops are angling for high-end holiday shoppers, not an increase 
in foot traffic. Colorado Harvest and Evergreen Apothecary timed the 
release of some top-shelf strains of potent pot for the holiday 
season. Spokeswoman Ann Dickerson said they're "sort of like the best 
bourbon or Scotch that will be competing on quality, rather than price."

And what holiday shopper doesn't appreciate free gift wrapping? Or a 
gift set ready to pop under the tree? The Growing Kitchen is making 
$49.99 gift sets for both the medical and recreational pot user. The 
sets include the edible-pot maker's new Mighty Mint cookie, a 
pot-infused confection new for the holiday shopping season, along 
with marijuana-infused salves for muscles sore from the ski slopes. 
Other dispensaries are offering free gift totes and stockings with purchases.

For the shopper who wants to give pot but doesn't know how the 
recipient likes to get high, Colorado's 300 or so recreational 
dispensaries so far have been able to issue only handwritten gift 
certificates. That's because banking regulations prohibit major 
credit cards companies from supporting marijuana-related gift cards 
the way they do for other retailers.

Just this month, a Colorado company started offering pot shops a 
branded gift card they can sell just like other retailers. The cards 
are in eight Denver dispensaries so far, and coming soon will be 
loyalty cards similar to grocery-store loyalty cards that track 
purchases and can be used to suggest sales or new products to 
frequent shoppers.

Just because marijuana can't legally leave Colorado doesn't mean 
dispensaries don't have items for out-of-state friends and family. 
Some dispensaries are highlighting some non-cannabis gift items - 
things like T-shirts, rolling papers and lotions made with legal 
herbs. The sets are for shoppers who want to give a taste of 
Colorado's new marijuana industry without breaking federal law by 
mailing it or taking it out of state.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom