Compliance
It may come as a surprise on the surface. However, Nicole’s expertise in marketing compliance and qualitative research methods have allowed her to go above and beyond the responsibilities of a traditional marketer.
Specifically, Nicole spent time from 2021 through 2023 creating robust state-level cannabis compliance marketing reports. She’s also taken a liking showing up advocating or testifying, where applicable, on behalf of social equity licensees in both Nevada and Colorado. Nicole has pushed the envelope on what’s possible in her cannabis career, and the industry, with a little gusto and willingness to enter a room. Learn more below.
Research and Reports
At Nicole’s first corporate cannabis job, one of her higher ups coined the slogan: “We’re in the compliance business first. Then we sell weed.”
In this particular role, a mission-critical assignment was Nicole’s: making sure the packaging designs, in-store printed collateral, digital assets and advertisements were not violating state laws in the MSO’s many markets.
The “How”
Having a research-heavy academic background, this fleeting assignment sparked a lifelong passion for marketing compliance that Nicole carries into every project she works on.
Nicole keeps her own foundational compliance reports handy for projects as they come in. She primarily focuses her reporting around 5 key areas: Marketing, Advertising, Packaging, Labeling, and Signage.
Upon receiving a request for a specific compliance report or checklist, the deliverable is built-to-order for your specific business. Nicole sources primary literature from State and Local governments, depending on the project, to empirically craft a valuable resource for your back of house. All reporting is cited in MLA format and can be updated annually, contingent on your needs.
Read on for great examples of use-cases for tailor-made compliance reports and checklists.
What can my business use compliance checklists for?
For onboarding new hires or interns
For hosting events
For guiding remote workers and Virtual Assistants who help with your marketing tasks
For double checking your own work, before having to host revision sessions with your attorney’s minutes on the clock
To avoid or turn around a Shadow Ban on social media
Note: Nicole’s marketing compliance reporting and consulting does not constitute, nor will it ever constitute, legal advice. If you work in any highly regulated space, having an attorney is highly encouraged.
Wait, really? Yes. Keep reading.
Nicole’s introduction to changing Cannabis legislation happened in 2023.
Las Vegas, Nevada: City Counsel
In 2023, Las Vegas became the focal point for Nicole’s work on behalf of a licensee-hopeful and several other social equity licensees in the cannabis hospitality sector. They collaborated under the banner of the Chamber of Cannabis to address consumption lounge licensing fees, which they identified as a hindrance to smaller businesses trying to establish themselves in the city. After presenting their concerns and supporting data to the Las Vegas City Council after several months, the council acknowledged their perspective and adjusted the restrictions accordingly.
Denver, Colorado: The Colorado General Assembly
In the same year, Nicole and her colleagues turned their attention to Colorado's legislative landscape as it pertains to cannabis hospitality. Organizing alongside social equity licensees once again, they backed HB 1020, aiming to modify delivery regulations for hospitality lounges, and to simplify online ordering processes for delivery operators.
While they approached the Colorado General Assembly with well-prepared arguments, the bill ultimately did not pass thanks to strong representation from publicly traded companies in favor of maintaining the status quo. Despite this outcome, the experience provided Nicole and the group with deeper insights into legislative proceedings and a clearer understanding of the nuances of lobbying at a state level. The process underscored the importance of persistence and adaptability in her ongoing advocacy efforts.