Forget Black Friday—in the cannabis world, it’s Green Friday. That sacred day when dispensaries go from “chill and vibey” to “retail warzone” in about 12 hours.
It’s a day fueled by caffeine, chaos, and the faint hope that this year, your marketing plan might actually go smoothly. (Spoiler: it won’t. But that’s part of the fun. And it you don’t have a plan, or a budget, scroll down, we have suggestions.)
Green Friday isn’t just another shopping event. It’s a stress test for your strategy, your creativity, and your ability to write emergency email copy at 2AM.
Let’s talk about what makes this “holiday” both hilarious and horrifying for small cannabis brands.
The Great Green Rush
In mainstream retail, Black Friday is predictable chaos—lines, discounts, and mildly aggressive shopping carts. In cannabis retail? It’s chaos with regulations.
- You can’t run Facebook ads.
- You can’t show your product in half your visuals.
- You can’t even say “sale” in some markets without your compliance team materializing out of thin air.
And yet, you’re still expected to:
- Go viral.
- Double your sales.
- And somehow make “BOGO eighths” sound inspirational.
It’s like being asked to run a marathon uphill in flip-flops while juggling inventory, compliance paperwork, and customer DMs.
- The “Biggest Sale Ever” (Again)
- Every year, the inboxes and social feeds flood with:
- “Our Biggest Sale of the Year!”
- “Everything Must Go!”
- “Buy Two, Get a Vibe!”
The problem? When everyone is shouting “biggest sale ever,” no one stands out.
The real magic isn’t in louder marketing—it’s in smarter storytelling:
- Offer early bird deals to your loyalty list.
- Collaborate with local artists or munchie brands.
- Host a chill “pre-roll and playlist” drop event.
- Highlight the people behind your products, not just the discounts.
Because price fades—experience sticks.
Strategy > Shock Value
Green Friday isn’t just about sales—it’s about learning.
Your campaigns hold more than sales data; they tell you what works:
- Which products move fastest?
- Which promos bring people back?
- Which channels actually convert—SMS, email, or just that one budtender who remembers everyone’s favorite strain?
The cannabis brands that win long-term don’t just push discounts—they build systems and relationships.
Surviving the Chaos
If you’re part of a small cannabis marketing team, you already know: Green Friday is powered by caffeine, Canva, and pure adrenaline.
Here’s your survival checklist:
- Plan early: Don’t let your promo calendar depend on vibes.
- Automate what you can: Email flows and SMS reminders are your best friends.
- Take care of your team: Burnout is real—and it doesn’t pair well with customer service.
- Keep it compliant: One bad word in your ad copy can kill your weekend faster than a broken POS system.
The Real Green Friday Magic
For all the chaos, Green Friday is still kind of awesome. It’s the one day a year where the entire cannabis community—from budtenders to marketers to owners—collectively says: “Yep. We’re doing this. Again.” It’s a reminder that cannabis marketing isn’t about perfection—it’s about creativity, community, and the hustle that keeps this industry alive.
So here’s to the late-night designers, the social media managers juggling five promo codes, and the dispensary owners pulling double shifts with a smile (and maybe a little sativa).
May your sales be high, your WiFi strong, and your email open rates higher than last year’s edibles.
Didn’t plan ahead? We’ve been there. Check out: Shit. You Didn’t Plan for Green Friday—and there’s No Budget.