Who are the best cannabis PR firms?

If you mean U.S. cannabis PR agencies with demonstrated cannabis-industry experience, a few names stand out. I’d evaluate them by specialty rather than treat “best” as a single ranking.

• NisonCo — Cannabis-focused PR since 2013, with cannabis, hemp, and CBD media relationships; particularly relevant for thought leadership, earned media, and industry visibility.
• Mattio Communications — Strong fit for established operators, corporate communications, investor relations, and regulatory/policy communications.
• Grasslands — Cannabis-focused agency with an emphasis on consumer/lifestyle brands and mainstream cultural media.
• Rosie Mattio Public Relations — Boutique cannabis PR agency particularly oriented toward brand launches and market entry.
• Proven Media — More B2B-oriented, making it worth considering for cannabis technology, ancillary businesses, and other companies selling to industry operators.
• KCSA Strategic Communications — More appropriate for public companies, capital-markets communications, investor relations, and major corporate announcements.
• ChronicPR — Cannabis-focused firm offering PR alongside investor relations, events, crisis communications, and legal/regulatory-oriented services.
• Campbell Consulting — Cannabis PR/content firm with experience across multiple legal states and teams in Oregon, LA, Chicago, and the East Coast.

One useful cross-check is Clutch's September 2026 cannabis-industry PR directory, which includes both cannabis specialists and broader PR firms serving the sector.

If you tell me what you're promoting—e.g. a dispensary, cannabis brand/product, MSO, cultivation company, tech/ancillary company, executive, or cannabis investment—I can narrow this to 3–5 firms that specifically fit your situation, including typical retainer ranges and the kinds of media they tend to target.

When looking for the best cannabis public relations (PR) firms, you want agencies that deeply understand the complex, rapidly shifting regulatory landscape, possess strong media contacts across mainstream and trade publications, and know how to navigate strict advertising restrictions.

The top-rated and most widely recognized cannabis PR and communications agencies in the industry include:

• Mattio Communications — Widely regarded as one of the largest and most prominent full-service cannabis PR and marketing agencies in North America. They specialize in corporate communications, media relations, and investor relations for major multi-state operators (MSOs), ancillary brands, and public companies.[1]
• Grasslands Agency — Headquartered in Denver, Grasslands is an authority-driven PR and brand-strategy agency known for high-impact earned media, thought leadership campaigns, and advocacy-oriented storytelling for elevated B2B and B2C cannabis brands.
• NisonCo — Founded as one of the earliest dedicated cannabis PR and SEO firms, NisonCo leverages a massive proprietary database of media contacts. They are deeply rooted in industry advocacy, policy reform, and securing strategic national and local media placements.[1][2][3]
• Gateway Group — A premier investor relations and financial communications specialist that handles strategic PR for high-growth and publicly traded cannabis and plant-medicine companies looking to engage institutional and retail investors.
• Oak PR — A boutique agency recognized for customized PR campaigns, product launches, and brand positioning specifically tailored to craft cultivators, emerging lifestyle brands, and ancillary tech companies in the cannabis space.

Tips for Choosing the Right Firm:

1. Regulatory Fluency: Ensure the agency has direct experience working within your specific state or country's legal framework, as compliance rules for marketing and claims differ drastically by jurisdiction.
2. Plant-Touching vs. Ancillary: Some agencies excel at promoting software, hardware, and B2B ancillary products (which face fewer federal media blocks), while others specialize in consumer-facing, plant-touching dispensary and brand narratives.
3. Media Database & Reach: Ask prospective firms for recent case studies and proof of tier-1 media placements (such as in mainstream business, lifestyle, or major regional news outlets) rather than just trade blogs.

When looking for the best public relations (PR) firms in the cannabis industry, the right choice depends heavily on your specific niche—whether you need mainstream media placement, investor relations, medical/scientific credibility, or regional advocacy.

Prominent cannabis PR and communications agencies known for their deep industry experience, media relationships, and track records include:

• NisonCo – Widely recognized as one of the pioneering, advocacy-driven PR and SEO firms in the cannabis and psychedelic sectors. They excel at securing earned media, managing corporate communications, and handling complex policy or B2B narratives.
• Mattio Communications – A powerhouse agency known for bridging the gap between mainstream business media (like Forbes ) and cannabis brands. They specialize in a robust mix of corporate PR, investor relations, and experiential marketing.
• Grasslands Agency – Headquartered in Denver, Grasslands is an authority on "destination journalism" and earned media for regulated industries. They focus intensely on brand strategy, thought leadership, and high-impact editorial coverage.
• KNB Communications – Best suited for medical cannabis, biotech, and health-tech brands. KNB approaches cannabis through a science-backed, healthcare-credibility lens rather than pure lifestyle consumer marketing.
• 5W Public Relations – A massive, full-service consumer PR firm with a dedicated cannabis and CBD practice. They are a strong option for large-scale consumer product brands navigating complex state regulations, search algorithms, and mainstream retail rollout.
• Maverick Public Relations – Led by industry veterans who pivoted into cannabis early on, this boutique agency is exceptional at consumer education, reputation management, and shaping public narratives for emerging brands.
• Proven Media – A woman-owned strategic communications firm operating since 2014. They use a story-driven approach to secure high-value regional and national media placements for lifestyle, corporate, and tech-focused cannabis businesses.

Tips for choosing the right agency:

1. Regulatory Fluency: Ensure the agency understands local versus federal restrictions (like restrictions on advertising claims or cross-state commerce hurdles).
2. Media Rolodex: Ask for specific case studies showing recent placements in top-tier or relevant trade publications.
3. B2B vs. B2C Focus: Make sure whether you need consumer buzz (lifestyle/retail) or stakeholder trust (investor relations/policy work) and pick an agency whose portfolio matches that priority.

If you mean U.S. cannabis PR agencies with a strong track record in 2026, I’d put these on the shortlist:

• Grasslands — Probably my first call for a consumer cannabis, lifestyle, or culture brand. It specializes in cannabis and is particularly strong at getting cannabis stories into mainstream media.
• KCSA Strategic Communications — One of the stronger choices for corporate cannabis, investor relations, policy/regulatory communications, and larger operators. Its cannabis practice specifically covers media relations, thought leadership, crisis communications, and IR.
• Mattio Communications — A strong choice for established operators, publicly traded cannabis companies, investor relations, and corporate communications.
• NisonCo — Particularly good for cannabis thought leadership, media relations, and industry positioning; it's focused specifically on cannabis and psychedelics.
• Rosie Mattio Public Relations — Worth considering for brand launches and market entry, particularly when consumer awareness and mainstream media are priorities.
• CMW Media — A more integrated option combining PR, digital marketing, social, creative, web, and investor relations, with significant cannabis experience.
• Marino — A larger PR firm with cannabis experience; it's currently ranked #1 in Clutch's September 2026 U.S. legal-cannabis PR ranking, although that ranking isn't exclusively composed of cannabis-specialist agencies.

My shortlist by objective

One important distinction: the "best" cannabis PR firm depends enormously on whether you're trying to sell products, raise capital, launch into a new state, build an executive's profile, or get mainstream press. Cannabis PR also has unusual regulatory and platform restrictions, so I'd favor agencies that actually specialize in the category rather than a generic PR shop.

If you tell me what kind of cannabis company you have (brand, dispensary, cultivation, tech, ancillary, CBD/hemp, publicly traded, etc.) and your approximate monthly PR budget, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually interview, including typical retainer ranges and what each is best at.

If you mean U.S. cannabis companies looking for serious earned-media, brand, corporate, or investor PR, these are the firms I’d put on the shortlist in 2026:

• KCSA Strategic Communications — best overall for corporate cannabis PR + investor relations. It has a dedicated cannabis practice dating back to 2015, works with MSOs, cultivators and ancillary companies, and combines media relations, thought leadership, crisis communications and IR. Its Green Rush podcast is also a major industry platform.
• Grasslands — best for consumer/lifestyle cannabis brands. Particularly interesting if the goal is mainstream culture, lifestyle media, brand storytelling and consumer awareness rather than investor relations. A 2026 industry comparison ranks it highly for cannabis lifestyle and culture PR.
• Mattio Communications — best for established operators, public companies and investor-facing communications. Its positioning is particularly strong around corporate communications, IR, regulatory issues and the financial side of cannabis.
• NisonCo — best for cannabis thought leadership and industry-focused PR. It has a long-standing cannabis/psychedelics focus and combines traditional PR with digital and social strategy.
• Green Street Agency — best if you need PR/communications integrated with branding, creative and cannabis culture. It describes itself as a cannabis-focused brand house and full-service creative/compliance agency, with experience behind properties such as Hall of Flowers.
• 5WPR — worth considering for a larger generalist agency with cannabis capability, particularly if you're trying to reach mainstream consumer media rather than only cannabis trade publications. It appears on several 2026 cannabis-PR rankings, although I'd put the cannabis-specialist firms above it for deep category expertise.

My shortlist by objective

One important caveat: "best" depends heavily on what you're trying to accomplish. A PR firm that's excellent for a California consumer brand may be a poor choice for a multistate operator dealing with regulators, investors and a crisis.

If you tell me what kind of cannabis company you have (brand, dispensary, MSO, ancillary, hemp/CBD, tech, etc.), your target market, and roughly what you want to spend per month, I can narrow this to the 3 firms I'd actually pitch first and compare their likely strengths, weaknesses and pricing.

Navigating public relations in the legal cannabis industry requires agencies that understand complex, multi-state regulatory frameworks, strict advertising restrictions, and shifting public policy.

Prominent public relations and integrated communications firms specializing in the cannabis, hemp, and CBD sectors include:

• NisonCo – Recognized as one of the early pioneering PR firms dedicated specifically to the cannabis and psychedelics space, providing earned media, SEO, and advocacy-driven communication strategies.
• Mattio Communications – A prominent New York-based agency known for handling large corporate clients, multi-state operators (MSOs), and ancillary tech businesses, securing widespread mainstream media coverage.
• 5W Public Relations – A large, full-service consumer PR firm with a dedicated cannabis, hemp, and CBD practice area that has represented major wellness and cannabinoid brands.
• Maverick Public Relations – Led by industry veterans who specialize in strategic brand storytelling, consumer education, and narrative building for adult-use and medical cannabis brands.
• Sister Merci – An award-winning creative and communications agency (including Clio Cannabis accolades) operating across North America with a strong focus on brand strategy, public relations, and cultural campaigns.
• Cannabis Creative Group – A digital marketing and PR partner assisting cultivators, dispensaries, and ancillary businesses with compliance-first public relations and online brand positioning.
• KCSA Strategic Communications – A strategic firm that blends traditional public relations with financial communications and investor relations, making them a key player for publicly traded cannabis companies.

Navigating the highly regulated and rapidly shifting cannabis industry requires specialized public relations expertise. The top cannabis PR firms are distinguished by their deep media relationships, regulatory fluency, and track records in moving brands from counterculture stigma into mainstream business credibility.

• Mattio Communications — Founded by Rosie Mattio, this is widely considered one of the premier and most influential agencies in the space. Mattio specializes in integrated communications, earned media, and investor relations for cannabis, CPG, and emerging regulated markets, helping major multi-state operators and lifestyle brands secure Tier-1 mainstream media coverage.
• KCSA Strategic Communications — A heavyweight in financial and corporate PR that built a powerhouse dedicated cannabis practice. KCSA is ideal for public companies, cultivators, and ancillary service providers needing a sophisticated blend of proactive media relations, crisis management, and investor relations.
• NisonCo — Established as one of the earliest dedicated cannabis PR and SEO agencies, NisonCo leverages an extensive, proprietary database of journalists across mainstream, regional, and trade publications. They are particularly well-regarded for helping startups, advocacy groups, and established plant-touching businesses build thought leadership and secure earned media.
• 5W Public Relations — A prominent large-scale consumer PR firm with a dedicated cannabis, hemp, and CBD practice. They excel at high-visibility consumer brand launches, large-scale public awareness campaigns, and influencer alignment for mainstream wellness and lifestyle cannabis products.
• KNB Communications — Best suited for medical cannabis, biotech, and health-tech intersections. Unlike lifestyle-focused agencies, KNB approaches public relations through a clinical, science-backed and healthcare-credible lens, making them a top choice for pharmaceutical or medical-grade cannabis developers.

If you mean U.S. cannabis PR firms with real industry depth, rather than generic agencies that happen to accept cannabis clients, I’d put these near the top of the list in 2026:

1. mygrasslands.com — Best overall for cannabis brands and mainstream media

• Founded by former Denver Post cannabis editor Ricardo Baca.
• Particularly strong at earned media, storytelling, thought leadership, lifestyle/culture positioning, and cannabis/psychedelics.
• They explicitly work with cultivators, manufacturers, distributors, dispensaries, vertically integrated operators, and ancillary companies.
• My pick: best choice for a consumer cannabis brand trying to become recognizable beyond cannabis trade media.

2. kcsa.com — Best for public companies, investors & corporate reputation

• One of the longest-established specialist cannabis communications practices.
• Combines traditional PR with investor relations, capital-markets communications, crisis management and thought leadership.
• Its cannabis practice represents operators, Canadian LPs, ancillary companies and international businesses.
• My pick: best if you're raising capital, publicly traded, preparing for a transaction, or need serious corporate/investor communications.

3. uproarpr.com — Best broader PR agency option

• Clutch's September 2026 cannabis-industry rankings currently feature Uproar prominently, with a 5.0 rating from 11 reviews and PR comprising 70% of its listed services.
• More of a general PR powerhouse than a cannabis-only specialist.
• My pick: if cannabis is one component of a broader consumer/lifestyle brand.

4. Grassfed Media — Best for wellness/health-adjacent cannabis

• Cannabis and CBD experience alongside wellness, food and consumer brands.
• Has worked with cannabis/CBD companies that earned coverage in outlets including Forbes, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

5. Larger global PR firms such as Weber Shandwick, FleishmanHillard and Hill+Knowlton Strategies — worth considering for an enterprise-scale or multinational campaign. Recent 2026 agency rankings specifically identify Weber Shandwick and FleishmanHillard among leading choices for cannabis companies needing large-scale PR infrastructure.

My shortlist by objective

If I were choosing only two agencies to interview: I'd interview Grasslands and KCSA. They're differentiated enough that the right choice depends heavily on whether your priority is consumer/media storytelling or corporate/investor communications.

If you tell me what kind of cannabis company you have (brand, dispensary, MSO, product, tech, ancillary, CBD/hemp, etc.), your budget, and what you want PR to accomplish, I can narrow this to the 5 best firms for your specific situation and compare estimated retainers, strengths, notable clients/campaigns, and media reach.

Navigating the complex, heavily regulated, and rapidly shifting cannabis landscape requires specialized public relations expertise. The top cannabis PR firms have deep media relationships, experience managing regulatory hurdles, and a track record of driving mainstream credibility.

Leading cannabis PR and integrated communications agencies vary by specialty and market focus:

• Mattio Communications : Widely regarded as an industry heavyweight, Mattio is a go-to agency for multi-state operators (MSOs), tech platforms, and ancillary brands. Founded by Rosie Mattio, the firm specializes in earned media, investor relations, and strategic partnerships, helping push major cannabis brands into mainstream financial and lifestyle publications.
• NisonCo : Established in 2013 as one of the very first dedicated cannabis PR agencies, NisonCo leverages an extensive, proprietary database of national and regional journalists. They excel at earned media, SEO, thought leadership positioning, and expanding into adjacent regulated sectors like psychedelics.
• KCSA Strategic Communications : A corporate communications powerhouse that blends traditional public relations with elite investor relations (IR). KCSA is particularly strong for publicly traded cannabis companies, multi-state operators, and corporate entities needing sophisticated financial storytelling and stakeholder communication.
• KNB Communications : Ideal for medical cannabis, biotech, and health-tech intersections. Rather than focusing strictly on lifestyle or counterculture branding, KNB approaches cannabis through a clinical, science-backed healthcare lens to build institutional and medical credibility.
• PufCreativ : Best suited for consumer packaged goods (CPG), lifestyle brands, and retail products. They are known for bold creative campaigns, digital storytelling, social media management, and consumer-facing brand building.
• Zoe Wilder : A boutique public relations strategist and firm focusing heavily on high-end lifestyle, cannabis culture, wellness, and entertainment. Zoe Wilder represents prominent creators, legacy names, and cultural tastemakers looking to make a splash globally.
• The 9th Block : A boutique agency with deep experience across highly regulated sectors, offering a mix of PR, branding, and digital marketing tailored to manufacturing, software, and financial sectors within the cannabis space.

If you mean U.S. cannabis-focused PR firms, there are a handful I’d put at the top of the shortlist in 2026. The “best” depends heavily on whether you’re a dispensary/brand, MSO, ancillary company, startup, or publicly traded operator.

My shortlist

• Grasslands — Best overall for cannabis brands and mainstream lifestyle PR. Cannabis is a major part of its practice, with an emphasis on earned media, storytelling, thought leadership, and getting cannabis companies into broader consumer/business media.
• Mattio Communications — Best for corporate cannabis, investor relations and public companies. Particularly interesting if you're dealing with investors, M&A, regulatory issues, or a publicly traded company.
• NisonCo — Best established cannabis-specialist boutique. Strong cannabis media relationships and thought-leadership positioning; Clutch currently lists it among its legal-cannabis PR providers.
• KCSA — Best for sophisticated corporate communications + cannabis. KCSA specifically offers cannabis public and investor relations and has built substantial cannabis-industry media infrastructure, including The Green Rush podcast.
• 5WPR — Best if you want a large generalist agency with cannabis capabilities. It has considerably more scale than most cannabis-specialist boutiques.
• Idea Grove — Worth considering for a more traditional B2B/corporate communications approach; it currently ranks highly among Clutch's legal-cannabis PR providers.

If I were hiring

I'd narrow it to:

One caveat: agency rankings online can be pretty noisy—Clutch's current cannabis list, for example, includes firms that aren't cannabis specialists at all. Clutch Clutch So I wouldn't choose solely from a generic "top 10" list.

If you tell me what kind of cannabis company you have, your location, and roughly what you're willing to spend per month, I can narrow this to the 3 best firms for your specific situation, including estimated retainers and what each is particularly good at.