Rosie Mattio

ICYMI: Dope coverage in MJBizDaily featuring Marino. client Empire Cannabis Manufacturers Alliance (#ECMA) — and a shift #NewYork #cannabis operators have been asking for. Under new rules, licensed cannabis shops in New York can now offer discounts, promotions, and loyalty programs — tools that almost every other retail category has used for years to build repeat business, reward customers, and compete meaningfully with the illicit market. ECMA has been crystal clear about this: legal retailers need every tool possible to build sustainable, reputable businesses. As the industry matures, you can’t ignore the basics of consumer engagement and retention — especially when unlicensed operators aren’t playing by any of the same rules. This change won’t magically fix every challenge in New York’s regulated market, but it’s a practical, common-sense step toward leveling the playing field. Promotions and pricing flexibility are part of how regulated industries compete — and now cannabis gets to join that club. Shoutout to #MJBizDaily for capturing a meaningful #policy moment on the ground in New York. #NYCannabis #CannabisRetail #Regulation #CannabisIndustry #MarinoPR #CannabisPR https://lnkd.in/eQdun6yZ

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The New York State Cannabis Control Board recently approved updated regulations for Packaging, Labeling, Marketing and Advertising (PLMA) that, among other things, allow for discount and loyalty programs. For dispensaries, this is more than a chance to roll out a reward card. It’s a moment to tell a story about legitimacy, consumer value, and market maturation. I wrote about how operators can seize the moment: https://lnkd.in/eBQrKWk4

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🚨 New on Forbes - The New Faces Of Weed: Meet The Cannabis Content Creators Doing What Big Brands Can’t → https://lnkd.in/e-NNV7cJ Cannabis companies still face major ad restrictions. Yet a new generation of creators is filling the void—educating, entertaining and influencing millions without billboards or TV spots. These voices aren’t just influencers. They’re educators, policy advocates, business owners and culture shapers. From Dope As Yola and Koala Puffss to Educannabis, En Volá, @girlsingreen710 and @maviferreirabr, these creators are redefining what cannabis marketing, storytelling and community look like—in English, Spanish and Portuguese. 🌿 They’re trusted where brands struggle. 🎙️ They’re building platforms while staying authentic. 🌍 And they’re global, spanning Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, the U.S. and beyond. This is more than content. It’s infrastructure. #CannabisMarketing #CannabisCreators #CreatorEconomy #CannabisCommunity #Forbes #CannabisIndustry #InfluencerMarketing #DigitalMedia #LatinCannabis #CannabisContent #CannabisCulture #CannabisBusiness

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New Research Shows Why Regulation Aligned Sex Tech Innovates Faster, Not Slower View My Portfolio There is a persistent myth in sex tech that regulation limits innovation. Recent research shows the opposite: brands that design in alignment with regulatory frameworks move faster, scale more smoothly, and avoid costly resets. A 2024 regulatory innovation study found that sex tech companies building with compliance in mind from the start reached market readiness sooner and reduced post launch revisions by 40 percent. Journal of Health Technology Regulation, 2024 What the research makes clear: Regulation aligned sex tech • shortens approval and retail onboarding timelines • reduces product recalls and redesigns • increases partner and investor confidence • accelerates international expansion • protects long term brand equity Compliance does not block creativity. It removes uncertainty. Why this matters to you: If you believe sex tech should • be built to last across markets • avoid gray zones that slow growth later • earn trust from retailers and platforms • integrate into healthcare adjacent spaces • scale without constant risk management You are thinking like a category builder, not a trend chaser. At V For Vibes, regulation alignment is treated as an innovation strategy. Products are designed with safety standards in mind from day one. Claims are evidence aligned. Documentation is proactive, not reactive. Growth is intentional, not fragile. The next era of sex tech will not reward shortcuts. It will reward brands that understand that credibility is a form of speed. Innovation that survives regulation is the only innovation that truly scales. #SexTech #SexualWellness #VForVibes #RegulatoryStrategy #HealthTech #WomenInLeadership #FemaleFounders #ResponsibleInnovation #FutureOfSexTech

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#Scoop: E-commerce company Society Brands, which owns clean beauty and wellness brands like Primal Life Organics, is tapping private lenders to refinance debt and fund its latest acquisition of a toxin-free cosmetics company. Full story: https://lnkd.in/daZPz_Rq

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New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis market has experienced surging growth since it launched in April 2022. Recreational cannabis sales in New Jersey totaled $789.8 million in 2024, and the number of retailers has proliferated, giving the multistate operators who were first in the market some serious competition. #cannabis #adultuse #recreational #cannbisretail #publicsafety #regulatedretail https://lnkd.in/gi3FWH7a

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New York’s adult-use cannabis market is still in its early innings, but already it’s proving to be a magnet for some of the West Coast’s biggest and best-known brands. As licensing accelerates and more dispensaries open across the state, California and Oregon operators are lining up to plant their flags in the Empire State, drawn by the size of the opportunity and the appetite of a growing consumer base. (link in comment)

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