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Digital PR · Published February 6, 2023

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

Cannabis/CBD Trends to Watch in 2023

legal weed dispensary storefront with signage and cannabis products displayed inside
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The public is in the favor of legalizing cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes. There has been a growing acceptance in the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes and some states have legalized its use while  have decriminalized its use. Being aware of the CBD legislature is essential when it comes to cannabis marketing. In 19 states, cannabis is now legal for recreational purposes while in yet another 19 states cannabis is legal for medical purposes. 

Growing market

Each state has its own laws when it comes to the use of cannabis. New cannabis legislature helps to open new markets in the rapidly growing cannabis industry. The industry has tremendous growth potential and could reach $72 billion by the year 2030. The growth in the market might bring an increase in sales but it will likely also bring an increase in regulations. Competition will also increase as brands rush to enter the growing market.

Evolving Legislature Impacting PR & Marketing

The industry is complex and includes more than the supply chain of cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensaries. Given the ongoing changes to the industry and the regulatory space, . Brands in the space can greatly benefit from collaborating with a PR and marketing team who are well versed in the cannabis space and familiar with the intricacies of marketing products within the confines of existing legislation.  Regulations, infrastructure, and stakeholders differ from one state to another and hence communication strategies have to be adopted accordingly. 

Increasing Variety of Products

We should expect to see an increasing level of variety in the types of products being offered in the market as the cannabis space becomes more mainstream. Companies in the space will likely go beyond products like chocolate bars, gummies and baked goods, going to market with innovations in food and beverage, skin care, grooming and even pet care. As new products are introduced, brands need to ensure that they have clear product and brand marketing campaigns around them so that consumers understand the use case of each new product and develop a level of trust with the brand. 

Growth in customer base

Naturally, changes in legislature will result in a broader consumer base being interested in the cannabis market. We can expect to see companies explore niche markets and hence new approaches will be needed to communicate with different demographics and consumer segments who may be interested in trying cannabis products for the first time. Different social media platforms have specific rules regarding the marketing of cannabis products, and close attention should be paid to those rules while creating content for those platforms. 

Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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