Putting It All Together

Opportunity

My firm will be engaged in creating a more perfect/ harmonious union amongst those who lawfully engage in cannabis smoking either medicinally, or recreationally, whenever that comes to pass. My firm’s skills and talents include social media marketing and public outreach. Our aspirations are to remove the taboo associated with the public utilization thereof. Once a bridge is built in order to form a better understanding amongst users and non-users, cannabis smoking will have avoided the scarlet lettering cigarette smoking has taken on. The group wit the unmet need is both the marijuana users and the general public. The general public would prefer some separation in enjoyable use of air, and the cannabis users, would like some anonymity in their use.  The customers I am pursuing are those who are now directly affected, but in a financial position to create a change. My primary customers would be retailers who would benefit from the perceived discretion of use near to their shops. The cannabis industry would also be interested in supporting as the public relations would be good for public perception.

The forces of nature in the environment creating the opportunity for this change would be the increased ostracizing of the industry. The industry, retailers, and others directly impacted by these changes in law will be interested in funding this endeavor as it would help introduce these dramatic societal changes we will see occur in a positive fashion. The open-air hub piece would also include a PR initiative. The directly affected market is more defined by demographics as opposed to geographics. Currently there is an unmet need that is not being satisfied. With the creation of this venture the need will then be met. I believe my customer base will be loyal to this endeavor long term. Increased air quality and cannabis use anonymity is what I believe society will need once a better understanding is made.

Innovation 

In addition to the social outreach piece that will accompany the changes in legislation, my firm will also be active in the installing of a yet to be named open air hub device. This device is best described as being like a bus shelter, will allow smokers to freely engage in their activities, all while the device collects the exhaled by-product. Like what you may see at Disney, in the form of a mister, only this device will blow air and collect the same. As noted in the prior assignment, the recent regulation of the recognition of medical marijuana use, and / or legalization of recreational marijuana has created an opportunity that I have found through conversation to be in dire need. Because of these changes in law, I believe there to be an unmet need of an outdoor location, or hub device to collect marijuana air during use. This collection would assist to facilitate the use of marijuana discretely, and lawfully without infringing on the rights of others. The new device would be much like a mist machine (those device hubs at Disney and other outdoor attractions that deliver mists of water during hot weather) only, it would work in reverse. As opposed to delivering mists of water, it would suck in exhaled marijuana smoke. The device would resemble a small hub but more so be just a frame. The hub would be for the most part open air, but with components made specifically for air collection. This would allow for users to step off a beaten path, like how cigarette smokers do now to indulge. Cannabis users would also benefit from not being associated with the coinciding odor should that be their concern. Having such a device available will aid in reducing the public backlash to perceived air quality and discomfort of associated smells in clothing etc.

Venture Concept

 Given the recent changes in regulation for medical and recreational uses of marijuana, users are entitled to a discrete event for usage. Currently, no provisions have been made for users to enjoy a discrete experience while indulging lawfully in public. The lack of acceptance of the changes in law, as well as the expedience with which some would contend the laws have changed, have not allowed the full embracing of this change, and thus, a slow incorporation into societal norms has occurred. Our research is part of our core competencies. We have performed in-depth research denoting what will occur should there not be some significant relationship building between the cannabis industry, and the general public. Cannabis smoking if not introduced correctly, will go the way of cigarette smoking. The areas where I perceive there to be the potential for difficulty, lie in the core competencies. As of now, the majority of my theory of potential interest comes from those who look to be impacted. I would need to increase my level of research in order to be sure a market exists to where this can be monetized on a large scale.