Rootd host Tim Strombel interviewed Dave Paleschuck, who is the V.P. of Licensing and Brand Partnerships for Dope Media, which has evolved beyond its initial focus as a magazine connecting the cannabis industry to a broader platform. “Dope” is an acronym that stands for “defending our plant everywhere.” Founded in Seattle, Dope Magazine has expanded into multiple markets and runs several cannabis industry events.
Paleschuck, who contributes the column “Branding Bud” each month, has significant marketing experience, having worked at Mastercard for 8 years, Pepsi for 3 years and Microsoft for 6 years. When he left Microsoft, he consulted with cannabis retailers, helping them to help their own customers better understand the product offerings before joining Dope Media. He is also a professional skateboarder with a passion for art and design.
Dope is now selling branded products, including pre-rolls, oils and cartridges and a vaporizer pen. These products are sold in Washington and Oregon and will soon be sold in Colorado, California and other states. The products are made with partners in each state to produce co-branded products, with a goal of consistency across the different markets.
