Do you LOVE cannabis? Does being a Cannabis Influencer sound like a dream come true? Well it is! When done correctly, it can not only be very profitable but highly (pun intended) enjoyable. Not to mention, you can meet some pretty badass people along the way, too!
Apart from smoking copious amounts of weed, I have come to make a name for myself in the cannabis industry, particularly in New York City — leading my personal brand and TribeTokes — to be featured on several reputable magazines such as Allure, HighTimes, and more. I also serve as the Brand Ambassador of Women Grow NYC, where I help spread the word about how people like you can get into and thrive in the cannabis industry.
To all the newbies who love weed but are unsure of how to turn their very committed relationship with cannabis into a profitable one, here are my top three tips for becoming an influencer in the legal cannabis industry…
Network, Network, Network.
This is the most effective way of getting your name out into the industry where people will truly remember you. Here are my top 5 types of events you should attend:
Join an industry organization like Women Grow or NORML. This gives you some credibility that you are invested in the industry. It also gives you access to meetings and events. I even met my current TribeTokes business partner at a Women Grow event in NYC.
Attend networking events like On the Revel, CannaGather, or the NY Cannabis Alliance. I also suggest making business cards even if it’s just your personal info on them. Be sure to include your LinkedIn profile and social media channels too. The best practice is to exchange cards and start to grow your network on and offline!
Higher learning is EVERYTHING. Sign up for local workshops or educational panels like Synergy Sesh. By educating yourself, you will be able to more fluidly talk the talk and walk the walk with other connects.
Attend national conferences like the CWCBE or MJBizCon. These channels will help you build your profile just by showing up. If you want to be a player in the game you have to show up and play with the big dogs.
Attend social events like The Cannabis Film Festival or a HighTimes Cup. I was lucky enough to be a judge these last few years where I met a lot of great people and had an absolute blast. The point is, you have to meet more people, not only online but in person!

Commit to Social, Across All Platforms
There are so many of you that want to enter the marijuana industry and become influencers in the growing space, but who are simultaneously hesitant of publishing a weed meme on your social media pages in fear of being judged… Not only is this contradictory on a personal belief standpoint, but it’s confusing for outsiders (be it owners of cannabis brands and potential social followers) when they are trying to grasp what your brand represents and what you as a person stand for.
As the saying goes, followers will only follow you if you know where you’re going. So, if you are wanting to be a marijuana influencers, go all-in on being social! To begin with, I highly recommend investing in your Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook presence by publishing content at least 3-4 times a week. I personally post every day regularly on my feed and stories. Here are some of my favorite influencers in the space:
@chloevilanue, @damarijuanamomma, @thetranimalchronicles
Find a CBD/Cannabis Brand that You Can Align With
A lot of people who want to become marijuana influencers think that they have to create their own company off the bat in order to learn about and make an impact in the space. But, that’s not necessarily the case, especially when you are learning and finding your footing. As a beginner in the space, I would highly recommend that you attend trade shows, local meetups, etc., to find a brand or team that you feel drawn to and align with. When you find that brand, immediately try to identify a way that you can provide value to them, be it by volunteering your copywriting, video editing, social media posting services or more. A lot of these brands are startups and are running very lean, which means that most of them will gladly accept all help you are willing to offer.

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