Pubdate: Thu, 27 Nov 2014
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2014 Associated Press
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154
Author: Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press
Page: A19

DECK THE HALLS WITH POT, NOT HOLLY, SAY CENTENNIAL STATE SHOPS

Legal Weed Sales Get Stores Set to Harvest Cash for the Holidays

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.

Here's a look at how the new recreational marijuana industry is 
trying to attract holiday shoppers:

'DOORBUSTERS'

Traditional retailers 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 says his Black Friday pot is decent quality, and says 
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 card-carrying medical patients, Fox 
says 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.

SUGAR PLUMS

Sweets and marijuana seem to go together like hot chocolate and 
marshmallows. 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-size joint. The pie joins holidayspiced 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.

HOLIDAY STRAINS

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 says they're "sort of like the best 
bourbon or scotch that will be competing on quality, rather than price."

GIFT WRAPPING

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.

GIFT CARDS

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 card companies from being able to back 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.

SPREADING CHEER

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 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