Everything You Need to Know About Washington Cannabis Vendor Days

Written by Ammon J. Ford, Gleam Law, PLLC. 

Consumers are often loyal to their preferred brands. Knowledge about a brand’s history, manufacturing, or composition not only help consumers make informed choices in their purchasing, but also helps instill brand loyalty that will keep them coming back time and time again. Anyone who has been to a “Tap Takeover” at a local bar or taken a tour of a microbrewery has seen this theory in action. Washington State’s cannabis equivalent is, in essence, a Vendor Day.

WASHINGTON CANNABIS VENDOR DAYS

RCW 69.50.585 allows for personal service from a cannabis producer/processor at a licensed retailer to “inform, educate, or enhance customers’ knowledge or experience of the manufacturer’s products.” Having an expert producer/processor on site can be an excellent experience for the customer to learn more and, hopefully, grow that brand loyalty. In their mission to “inform, educate, or enhance” the knowledge of the customer, what exactly can the producer/processor do? What about the retailer?

WHAT IS ALLOWED DURING CANNABIS VENDOR DAYS?

According to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis board:

  • Producer/processors are allowed to provide retailers with branded promotional items which are nominal in value to include pencils, matches, shirts, hats or other similar items.
    • The retailer may give the branded items to their employees to wear or use on vendor days, but these items cannot be given to members of the public.
  • Besides information pamphlets and flyers, the producer/processor may not provide members of the public anything of value at a retail marijuana business.
  • Non-infused edibles (samples) are the only items that may be provided on vendor days, within guidelines:
    • The retailer must already carry this marijuana-infused product in their stores.  
    • The non-infused edible may be placed on the producer/processors table or anywhere within the store.
    • The purpose is for the consumer to sample the type of edible before they purchase in order to determine which flavor they prefer.
  • The retailer may offer discounted prices to the customer on products being displayed at the vendor days event.
    • However, processors must continue to sell their product at the same uniform price they sell to all marijuana retailers at.  They are not allowed to discount prices on products to retailers on or before vendor day.

TAKEAWAYS

While we, the public, may lament not being able to pick up some branded swag on a vendor day, they do provide a unique chance to learn about cannabis products. The more the consumers learn, the more discerning they can be and the better the growers can respond to market demands. Keep an eye out for vendor days at your local retailers and take the opportunity to learn something and maybe even get a discount!

Photo Credit: George Doyle, Getty Images