Cannabis Brands Put Their Trippy Twist on April Fools' Day

The eyes are the windows to the soul, so the saying goes...and the fingertips are a dead giveaway that you’re fully lit. That’s true for users of a new tell-all beauty product from Canadian cannabis brand Mood Ring, described as “a first of its kind, scientifically-formulated color-changing nail polish.” Paint it on, toke it up and wear your stoned status on (or near) your sleeve within 30 minutes. The line, called Hippy Fingerz, infuses cannatropic liquid crystals into the polish that change form and color depending on the amount of THC in the body. It glides on clear and morphs into purple haze, blue dream or grass green depending on your degree of baked. “I said to our team, as a scientist, if a colleague can look me in the eye and recognize that I am high, then why can’t crystals do the same,” Dr. Spark, head neuroscientist at Mood Ring, said. “This new Hippy Fingerz scientific development opens the door for other fun new applications, like t-shirts and volcano lamps.” Hippy Fingerz, with its psychedelic design and “Get Laquered” tagline, is fake, of course. But credit to Mood Ring’s parent company Neptune Wellness for taking its April Fools’ Day stunt so seriously, creating an imaginary bedazzled option for cannafans who wouldn’t mind getting narced on by their fashion accessory. Mood Ring is one of a number of brands, both inside the cannabis industry and peripheral to it, joining in on the annual goofiness of the holiday (some waded into this mainstream celebration for the first time last year). Here’s a roundup of some of the dopest weed-themed shenanigans: Edibles with a Keto twist? Kiva Confections has announced a new flavor of its bestselling 5 milligram Terra Bite, and it’s packed with protein. “Crispy, crunchy, chewy AND gooey? It’s gotta be our new Terra Chocolate Grasshopper Bites,” the brand said in an Instagram post today. “Featuring “the most unique buzz in the biz, these bites will have you hopping to the store for more in no time.” While insects are considered a delicacy in some countries and are part of everyday diets in others, that’s not the case yet in the U.S. So the fictional product isn’t likely to go into R&D anytime soon. Kiva, meanwhile, has a history of unique (real) products like THC-infused Thanksgiving turkey gravy and THC-laced body chocolate called “Love Sauce.” The brand, a leader in weed edibles, recently turned a supply chain snafu into an artful piece of marketing. And for the upcoming 4/20 holiday, Kiva has collaborated with Yeasty Boys Bagels for a breakfast-inspired chocolate bar spiked with THC and everything bagel seasoning. A different kind of smoke sesh It may be a tad early in some parts of the U.S. for barbecue season, but here’s an excuse to fire up the grill now. Legacy brand Traeger Grills has put its 30 years of experience to work to create Weed Pellets, a 100% organic, limited edition product made from “a unique blend of premium American cannabis strains that were carefully selected by a team of expert growers, chefs and 420 enthusiasts.” “Weed isn’t just the fuel,” the brand said in a statement. “It’s the secret ingredient.” Traeger, which says it is simply satisfying a consumer demand, recommends lighting the grill an hour before cooking and chilling nearby “as you soak in all the aromas and flavors.” The (hoax) product comes with an alert—because of its dankness, it may cause “severe munchies, uncontrollable giggling, spacing out and increased interest in cartoons and/or Bigfoot documentaries.” Sit, stay, puff, pass Bark, the makers of BarkBox and Super Chewer subscription packs, adds the only real products in this April Fools’ bunch with the return of the brand’s cannabis-themed dog toys. In its third year, the collection drops earlier than usual and includes more items than ever before. Intended to celebrate 4/20 all month, the products have a new twist in 2022, according to Derek Rippe, director of toys. “Our team expanded beyond the classic icons of cannabis culture and pulled ideas from our personal experiences and nostalgia, which as it turned out, were still pretty universal,” Rippe told Adweek. “Things like baking trays of pot brownies or converting an apple into a pipe.” Look for those items, as well as fan favorites like bongs and pot leaves, among this year’s assortment, which continues the brand’s storytelling strategy. “We have some of the best toy designers in the world, hilarious comedy writers and insanely versatile graphic designers and illustrators,” Nick Cogan, vice president of creative, told Adweek. “The whole creative team is constantly pitching jokes and storylines which are turned into best-in-class, functional, well-made toys.” Bark’s first foray into cannabis-inspired toys in 2020 sold out in 24 hours, and some items from 2021’s collection were reselling on eBay for upward of $1,000. As an added perk this year, new subscribers to the monthly service can receive a free 4/20-themed bucket hat for their dog and social media followers in the New York area can win special "discreet" deliveries of the new toys on April 20. As for the brand’s cozy, comical relationship with cannabis, Cogan said, “People love weed, and the stoner stereotype is finally dead. It’s a pop culture staple with growing legal acceptance. Our brand is about bringing humor and fun to time spent with your dog. Weed makes people happy, and happy people make their dogs happy. Bark’s mission is to make all dogs happy, so there you have it.” 4/20 Advice for Cannabis Marketers: Start Early, Skip Easter, Target Newbies

Cannabis

Cannabis Brands Put Their Trippy Twist on April Fools' Day Stunts

Moving further into the mainstream, weed inspires its own industry and others to play seasonal pranks

T.L. Stanley

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

T.L. Stanley