With a slick, minimal aesthetic, MedMen’s approach to selling marijuana has drawn comparisons to mega-brands Apple and Starbucks. By creating a welcoming brick-and-mortar space, it’s hoping to normalize cannabis use – not just for stoners and those who need it medically, but for the masses.

As the legalization movement has destigmatized marijuana use across the US, weed-centric start-ups, lifestyle brands, and media companies have flourished. And while cannabis culture is nothing new, the modern iteration of it, which incorporates health and a high-end aesthetic, certainly is.

Although cannabis is becoming more socially accepted in the US, regulations around how it is marketed, are still very stringent. That's why weed brands are side-stepping more traditional forms of marketing and adopting influencer-led strategies, helping them reach more engaged audiences.

As CBD products take a grip on the food and drink market, drinks brand Recess has entered the fray with a CBD-infused sparkling water, which it claims can help creatives 'ease stress' at work. As stigmas around cannabis products fall, brands are highlighting CBD's stress-busting properties.