This is a tale of two star-crossed lovers … not ol’ Romeo and Juliet. The budding love affair is between Arkansas’s cannabis cultivators and advertising. Cultivators are eager to educate patients about cannabis, but operate in a compliance grey area – making even the most basic communications decisions muddled with confusion. Is a [...]

The Green Wave is sweeping the country. And, no, I’m not talking about Tulane University athletics. It hasn’t been newsworthy in decades. According to Pew Research Center, 62% of Americans, including 74% of Millennials, said they supported legalizing marijuana. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical and, in some cases, [...]

Watch the full video on KATV. LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — This month, the first medical marijuana product is expected to hit the hands of patients in the state, but Arkansas lawmakers are still working out legislation. A bill that hit the governor's desk Tuesday afternoon puts strict guidelines on advertising for medical marijuana. SB [...]

Originally Published in Arkansas Business Leaving South by Southwest is always bittersweet. On one hand, I am always exhausted and ready to get back to Arkansas. On the other hand, I never want to leave the magic convergence of industry thought-leaders, practitioners, brand activations, bleeding-edge technology, music and film. Where else can you leave [...]

Written by Michael Tilley Originally Published in Talk Business & Politics With Arkansas’ medical marijuana industry just a few months – if not weeks – away from finally providing products to patients, public relations veterans Elizabeth Michael and Martin Thoma hope to profit by educating those in and out of a market they believe [...]

Written by Kyle Massey Originally Published in Arkansas Business Elizabeth Michael is well positioned to be the top communications pro for the emerging cannabis industry in Arkansas, and her first message is simple. Don’t call it marijuana. “It’s racist,” she said over tea a couple of weeks ago at Nexus in downtown Little Rock. “The [...]

WRITTEN BY AND ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN ARKANSAS MONEY & POLITICS   Two established Little Rock marketing and advertising executives have announced the launch of a boutique, full-service advertising and public relations agency for Arkansas’ medical cannabis industry. Bud Agency, led by principals Elizabeth Michael and Martin Thoma, will work exclusively within the cannabis sector to [...]