This is What WE Need From Cannabis Content

There is no shortage of cannabis content out there. It appears that at every turn there is a new article, video, or outlet spewing all they know and think you need to know about the exciting world of cannabis.

Thing is though, quantity, unfortunately, has nothing to do with quality in terms of the cannabis content we consume and this is not fruitful—for us in particular.

As a result of (and to combat) tons of fruitless content, I’ve created a living, growing request of things we need in order to ensure that the content we now constantly ingests nurtures.

Representation/Inclusion Matters

This is no cliché. Don’t speak for me. You may think all you want, but there really is only one way to know—and that’s by me telling you. This is something I’ve learned from experience.

We recently had a conversation with baby boomer and cannabis advocate, Patricia A. Patton (aka CannaBoomer), where she expressed how outlets weren’t adequately speaking to or for her generation. It wasn’t before long that we realized we were one of those outlets she was referring to. Before Patton became our boomer correspondent, we were assuming we knew who others were, what they needed and how, based on our relation TO them as opposed to learning THROUGH them. Well…you know that they say about those who assume.

Needless to say, Patton quickly let us know how we misstepped. She explained things about the wants and needs of boomers that there was no way for us to know and the fact that we spoke on boomers having not known is simply embarrassing.

There is so much value in hearing from the horse’s mouth. Speak horse, we’re listening.

Transparency

What’s really going on? Our community does not benefit from pipe dreams. We need truth. We don’t need to know how things could be (or in some cases even should be) so much as how they actually are. We can better navigate systems that we know are in place. Promote ambition, yes, but not without detailing what may lie in the way of achievement. Letting us know there may be roadblocks is one thing, pointing out who is creating them and how to circumvent them is another ball game.

When rules of the game change, say that. When you don’t want us to sit with you, say that.

We’re a savvy, tough, creative bunch. Once we know what we’re dealing with, trust that we’ll figure out a way to do so.

Consistency

With so much information out there you can imagine how easy it is to stumble upon conflicting reporting. We know this is a new industry and cannabis research is new, thus limited, in many ways. We also know that as entrepreneurs and consumers we’re all similarly trying to figure things out as we go. That being said, it’s okay to not know until you do.

Guessing, however, and thinking you may know while sharing those thoughts as facts is not okay. Find the truth and stick to it. If the truth is vague be truthful in explaining that. Switching up the narrative to instill hope, gain customers, or insight confusion (which has its own agenda) is beneficial to no one. Gain clarity and consistently share only that.

Value

Again, there is already so much out there—what can you add to the conversation? Are you speaking to the wants, needs, and desires of your specific audience? Do you even know what these needs are? There is nothing like reading an article, watching a video, and/or listening to audio and leaving feeling more educated than you were when you tuned in.

Read this clearly-the ONLY thing that matters in content is VALUE. Anything else is a waste of time for all parties involved. What are we gaining? If there is no clear answer to this, second guess the content you’re producing. Produce nothing at all until the value is apparent.

We cannot afford fluff. If any information we receive is not adding, it is subtracting. When you’re starting from ground zero, as many of us are, subtractions are ruinous. Value, people, or nothing at all.

This is just a start. For more insight on how you can be effective at cannabis content creation, be sure to join us for a consultation. Let’s learn. Let’s win.