San Franscisco: Marijuana startups battle for customers in run-up to high holiday

In a state that allows only card-carrying medical patients to use marijuana, the weed-smoker’s holiday of April 20 — or 420 — might be the nascent marijuana industry’s Black Friday: one day of the year where potential customers are out in full force.

Several San Francisco startups that offer on-demand delivery of marijuana will be promoting their brands to the thousands of “420-friendly” people who turn out to celebrate Monday at places like Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park.

If advocates can persuade California voters to approve the recreational use of marijuana in 2016, the customer base for all sorts of weed-related services will widen. And companies’ early pitches could help determine which startup scrambles to the top of the weed industry heap.

As legal barriers fall in other states, marijuana users have become increasingly open about pot. And businesses have stepped up their marketing games. April 20 is an...

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URL: 
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Marijuana-startups-battle-for-customers-in-run-up-6199986.php