Branding the Bud: Marijuana Companies Want California to Issue Trademarks for Pot

The sandwich baggie brimming with buds is gradually becoming a thing of the past in California. In its place, an era of name-brand marijuana is emerging.

Celebrities — including actress Whoopi Goldberg, rapper Snoop Dogg, rocker Melissa Etheridge and the family of reggae legend Bob Marley — are branding their own herb. Law firms have sprouted to help marijuana sellers brand their goods. Pretty packages of cannabis-infused products bear labels like “Highland Pantry” (almond butter), “Madame Munchie” (cookies) and “Sweet ReLeaf” (skin cream).

Branded pot products gained footing in recent years as California sanctioned medical use of marijuana, and other states began permitting recreational use. In Long Beach, voters recently repealed a citywide ban on medical marijuana businesses, which officials will begin accepting applications for on Monday. 

And now that California voters have approved a ballot measure allowing all adults to use the drug, cannabis businesses want more authority to...

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