Artificial Intelligence in the Cannabis Industry: Changing the Customer Experience
More cannabis companies are employing AI to save time and enhance user shopping experience.
Within the past year, some cannabis companies have been implementing AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics in areas such as joint rolling, assisting with obtaining licenses, testing drivers’ impairment, and verifying flowers’ maturity (1). In June 2023, a free cannabis education chatbot called Spark debuted with California cannabis company and app Jointly (1). Without suggesting dosing or specific products, the chatbot reportedly responds to users’ general questions about their intended cannabis goals by suggesting options as a first step in their experience (1).
“Spark will help guide consumers through the process of consuming cannabis purposefully, better than any chart or graph and analytics could,” said Jointly CEO David Kooi (1). “Someone can ask their personalized question, whereas in the app it’s very numerical driven. [The AI assistant] will give the consumer someone to talk to about it.”
In September of this year, Smokeland, a cannabis dispensary and delivery service with more than 30 delivery locations in California, announced their use of AI to assist its customers in their cannabis shopping experience (2). The new AI assistant will reportedly analyze users’ data such as browsing and purchasing history to make product recommendations (3).
“Our AI shopping assistant will be a significant step forward in delivering a truly personalized cannabis shopping experience,” said Jeff Dillon, Vice President of Marketing for Smokeland (2). “By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we aim to make shopping more convenient and discreet for our customers, saving them time and empowering them to make informed decisions.”
The goal is for the AI assistant to learn users’ preferences for a more tailored shopping experience (3).
“Imagine an online shopping experience that not only takes the guesswork out of selecting your cannabis but also elevates your understanding and appreciation for it,” Dillon also stated (3). “That's where the cutting-edge AI technology we're developing comes into play. Cannabis shopping can be complex and intimidating, especially if you are consuming for medical needs.”
References
- Oleck, J. Weed-GPT: A new AI platform helps cannabis consumers learn “what’s right for me?” https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanoleck/2023/06/23/weed-gpt-a-new-ai-platform-helps-cannabis-consumers-learn-whats-right-for-me/?sh=507971da59db (accessed Sep 11, 2023).
- AI Shopping: The Future of Personalized Cannabis Shopping. Cannabis Law Report. September 6, 2023.
- Adams, B. Ai Assistant Forges Future of cannabis delivery, tailoring suggestions https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminadams/2023/09/08/ai-assistant-forges-future-of-cannabis-delivery-tailoring-suggestions/?sh=19c3aa3f4c00 (accessed Sep 11, 2023).
Ep 25: Cannabis Quality Differentiation Beyond Cannabinoid Content
February 28th 2025In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge we are joined by Julie Kowalski, a leading mind in analytical chemistry and cannabis testing. Julie has arranged a very compelling symposium for Pittcon entitled Cannabis Aroma: Advances and Challenges in Determining and Commercializing Cannabis Product Quality Attributes. It is taking place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, starting at 9:30 AM in room 209. The session features top notch speakers, including several previous guests of this show, and yours truly, discussing the next generation of quality assessment in cannabis.
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
