Cannabis email and SMS marketing agencies

Data as of Oct 26, 2026Reviewed by

How we measure

Which brands AI mentions

#BrandMentioned in
=1Alpine IQ60%
=1Klaviyo57%
=1Springbig54%
=1Cannabis Creative51%
=1Trip46%

Mentioned in · Jul 31 – Oct 26, 2026

ChatGPT SearchChatGPT SearchGoogle AI ModeGoogle AI Mode

  • =1Alpine IQChatGPT Search 22%Google AI Mode 100%
  • =1KlaviyoChatGPT Search 39%Google AI Mode 76%
  • =1SpringbigChatGPT Search 22%Google AI Mode 88%
  • =1Cannabis CreativeChatGPT Search 11%Google AI Mode 94%
  • =1TripChatGPT Search 67%Google AI Mode 24%

Questions and answers

  • Google AI ModeOct 26, 2026

    1. 1Alpine IQ
    2. 2Springbig
    3. 3Cannabis Creative
    4. 4High Opens
    5. 5CannaPlanners
    6. 6Apex Cannabis Marketing
    7. 7Klaviyo

    Choosing the "best" agency for cannabis email and SMS marketing depends heavily on whether you are a dispensary/retailer (needing local loyalty and POS integration) or an e-commerce/CBD/multi-state brand (needing advanced segmentation and deliverability).

    Because cannabis is heavily restricted on traditional ad networks, finding an agency that understands compliance, software workarounds (like Alpine IQ, Springbig, or specialized ESPs), and carrier rules for SMS is vital.

    Top-rated agencies and platforms specializing in this space include:

    • Cannabis Creative Group : An award-winning, full-service agency widely recognized for regulation-informed digital strategies. They are Alpine IQ-certified and partner directly with SMS platforms like Springbig, making them a top choice for dispensaries looking to align loyalty programs with text and email.
    • High Opens (by Fusion Inbound) : A specialized boutique agency focusing exclusively on email, SMS, and direct messaging for cannabis and CBD brands. They concentrate on building owned lists and creating revenue-focused flows that bypass traditional ad platform restrictions and shutdowns.
    • CannaPlanners : Known for strong website design and branding, they also offer targeted retention marketing, handling the day-to-day stress of scheduling, designing templates, and running personalized email and SMS campaigns for dispensaries.
    • Apex Cannabis Marketing : A full-service digital consulting agency that handles tailored marijuana email and SMS marketing campaigns alongside broader digital strategies.

    Key Software Platforms They Typically Use:

    If you are deciding which software ecosystem your agency should leverage, the industry standard tools include:

    1. Alpine IQ: The leading cannabis-centric platform built explicitly for dispensaries, integrating SMS, push notifications, email, and loyalty tracking with point-of-sale (POS) data.
    2. Springbig: Another powerhouse for cannabis SMS and loyalty marketing tailored to dispensary retail workflows.
    3. Klaviyo: The gold standard for e-commerce email marketing, though its suitability depends on whether your specific brand sells THC (requiring strict adherence and specific provider terms) versus hemp/CBD.

    Sources cited in this answer5

    ChatGPT SearchOct 26, 2026

    1. 1Trip
    2. 2Alpine IQ
    3. 3Dutchie
    4. 4Springbig
    5. 5The Email Marketers
    6. 6Gold Standard Cannabis Marketing

    If I were choosing an agency for cannabis email and SMS marketing in 2026, I'd start with Gold Standard for a licensed dispensary, and compare it with Trip if you want a specialist focused on email and SMS execution. The best choice depends on whether you're marketing a retail dispensary, a multi-state operator, or a direct-to-consumer hemp/CBD brand.

    The biggest differentiator isn't just creative or copywriting. It's whether the agency understands cannabis-specific messaging restrictions, integrates with your POS and loyalty data, and can prove that campaigns generate actual sales.

    My top cannabis email & SMS agency shortlist

    • GOLD STANDARD | TUSCAN GELATO | 3.5G - Gold Standard

    1. Gold Standard

    (Best overall for dispensaries)

    Best for licensed retailers looking to grow repeat purchases through coordinated email, SMS, loyalty and customer segmentation. Works with Alpine IQ, Dutchie and Springbig. Its website publishes campaign-attributed revenue and case studies, though you should verify the results independently.

    Website:

    • Home | Trip Design Studio | Comic Artist & Illustrator

    2. Trip Studio

    (Best for email lifecycle marketing)

    A strong candidate if you need email strategy, automated flows, segmentation, deliverability improvements and coordinated SMS. Trip lists cannabis-specific compliance review and experience across multiple U.S. states. Its published service page specifies a three-month minimum engagement.

    Website:

    • The Top 5 CBD Marketing Agencies for Cannabis Companies

    3. The Email Marketers

    (Best for hemp and CBD ecommerce)

    Worth considering for DTC brands selling hemp-derived products, CBD and eligible cannabis-adjacent products online. The agency publishes client case studies and focuses on email/SMS retention and ecommerce automation. Its own 2026 agency comparison lists pricing starting at $4,400 per month.

    Website:

    One important distinction: agency vs. software

    If you operate a THC dispensary, the marketing platform matters as much as the agency. Consider these options:

    PlatformBest use
    Alpine IQCannabis-specific CRM, loyalty, email and SMS
    SpringbigDispensary loyalty and customer messaging
    DutchieMarketing integrated with an existing Dutchie retail setup

    These are software platforms, not substitutes for a fully managed agency. Confirm current THC eligibility and messaging restrictions directly with each provider before signing. Promotional cannabis SMS faces carrier restrictions that differ from email rules.

    How I'd make the final decision

    Before hiring any agency, ask for three things:

    • A case study showing incremental revenue, not just opens and clicks.
    • A clear explanation of how its email and SMS setup complies with applicable cannabis rules and carrier requirements.
    • A sample monthly report tying campaigns to purchases, repeat customer rate and revenue per message.

    One question so I can narrow this to the best agency for your business: Are you marketing a licensed THC dispensary, a hemp/CBD ecommerce brand, or a cannabis brand selling wholesale to other businesses?

    Sources cited in this answer8

  • ChatGPT SearchOct 17, 2026

    1. 1Trip
    2. 2The Email Marketers
    3. 3Springbig
    4. 4Yerbalist
    5. 5Klaviyo
    6. 6Gold Standard Cannabis Marketing

    For a cannabis brand looking to outsource email and SMS marketing, I’d prioritize agencies that specialize in cannabis retention, understand the restrictions around messaging regulated products, and can demonstrate revenue generated from campaigns and automated flows.

    My biggest recommendation is to separate agencies that serve licensed THC dispensaries from those that specialize in hemp, CBD, or direct-to-consumer (DTC) cannabis brands. The right fit depends heavily on which category you're in, because messaging platforms and carriers can have very different restrictions.

    Here’s the shortlist I’d start with based on current agency offerings and cannabis-specific expertise.

    Top agencies to shortlist

    Ranked by relevance to cannabis email/SMS needs, not by an independently audited performance ranking.

    1. Trip Studio

    (Best specialist agency to interview)

    Website:

    Trip explicitly focuses on cannabis email marketing, including lifecycle automation, audience segmentation, deliverability, and integrated email/SMS strategy. Its site describes cannabis-specific experience and established relationships with cannabis-oriented platforms.

    Best for: A licensed cannabis business that wants a specialist to own the retention strategy rather than simply send promotional blasts.

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    2. The Email Marketers

    Website:

    This agency specializes in email-led growth for CBD and cannabis-related ecommerce brands. Its published material describes experience with CBD and THC clients, making it worth evaluating for DTC retention and lifecycle marketing.

    Best for: Consumer brands selling hemp-derived products, CBD, or eligible DTC products online.

    Ask first: Whether they currently accept your specific THC or hemp product category and can manage SMS through a permitted provider.

    • GOLD STANDARD | TUSCAN GELATO | 3.5G - Gold Standard

    3. Gold Standard

    Website:

    A cannabis-focused retention agency offering managed email and SMS, loyalty programs, automation, and CRM support. It lists integrations with platforms including Alpine IQ, Dutchie, Springbig, and Treez, and advertises month-to-month service.

    Best for: Dispensary-oriented brands or operators that want email/SMS management connected to loyalty and customer purchasing data.

    4. Yerbalist

    Website:

    Yerbalist offers cannabis-focused digital marketing and describes its email service around Klaviyo retention flows, audience growth, and segmented broadcasts. Its broader marketing expertise may be useful if you also need acquisition support.

    Best for: Brands looking for an email retention partner that can also support broader digital marketing.

    Ask first: Whether its managed service covers SMS for your specific products, not just email.

    • Cannabis Dispensary Software Integrations | Meadow

    5. Springbig

    Website:

    Springbig is primarily a cannabis marketing platform rather than a conventional full-service agency. It offers cannabis-oriented email, SMS/MMS, CRM, loyalty, and automated messaging.

    Best for: Cannabis retailers and brands reaching consumers through dispensary relationships, loyalty data, or participating retail networks.

    Important distinction: Confirm whether you will get a dedicated team that executes campaigns for you or primarily software and support.

    How I would choose between them

    If your priority is…Start with
    A specialist to manage cannabis email marketingTrip Studio
    CBD/hemp ecommerce and DTC retentionThe Email Marketers
    Dispensary CRM, loyalty, and messagingGold Standard
    Email retention plus broader digital marketingYerbalist
    Cannabis-specific messaging infrastructureSpringbig

    Three things to verify before signing

    1. Make sure the agency and sending platform accept your exact products.

    This is the biggest potential dealbreaker. For example, Klaviyo's current acceptable-use policy reserves the right to restrict controlled-substance use cases, and its SMS policy prohibits messaging about illegal substances. Don't assume an agency's experience with CBD means it can safely run campaigns for state-licensed THC products.

    2. Hire for execution, not just strategy.

    Ask whether the monthly fee includes:

    • Email and SMS campaign calendars, copywriting, design, and sending
    • Welcome, post-purchase, replenishment, and win-back automations where appropriate
    • List segmentation, deliverability monitoring, and consent management
    • Monthly revenue attribution, testing, and optimization

    3. Ask for proof of incremental revenue.

    Request two relevant case studies showing list size, campaign-attributed revenue, revenue from automated flows, unsubscribe rates, and the client's product category. Treat headline open rates and revenue claims as marketing claims until verified.

    Let's narrow this down to the best three for your brand

    The most useful distinction is what kind of cannabis brand you operate.

    1. What type of brand are you?

    Licensed THC brand sold through dispensaries

    CBD/hemp brand selling direct to consumers online

    Multi-state or national cannabis brand

    Accessories or ancillary products

    2. What do you want the agency to handle?

    Everything: strategy, copy, design, campaigns, automation, and reporting

    Campaigns and creative execution; we handle strategy

    Automations, segmentation, and retention optimization

    3. What's your approximate monthly agency budget?

    Under $3,000

    $3,000–$7,500

    $7,500–$15,000

    $15,000+

    4. What platform do you currently use?

    Alpine IQ, Springbig, or Dutchie

    Klaviyo or Shopify

    Another platform

    Not sure / starting from scratch

    [Find my top three agencies]

    Sources cited in this answer14

    Google AI ModeOct 17, 2026

    1. 1Cannabis Creative
    2. 2Alpine IQ
    3. 3Springbig
    4. 4MediaJel
    5. 5Leafbuyer
    6. 6Dutchie
    7. 7PufCreativ
    8. 8Klaviyo
    9. 9Drip
    10. 10Sweed POS
    11. 11Cola Digital

    Managing email and text message (SMS) marketing for a cannabis brand requires specialized knowledge. Because mainstream email service providers (ESPs) and SMS gateways have strict or shifting compliance policies regarding cannabis, you need an agency that deeply understands cannabis-friendly tech stacks, state-by-state marketing regulations, and age-gating.

    The top agency options specializing in cannabis email and SMS marketing include:

    • Cannabis Creative Group (CCG)
      • Overview: One of the most prominent full-service agencies in the space, CCG specializes in regulation-informed, performance-based digital marketing.
      • Email/SMS Strengths: They are officially certified experts in cannabis-specific CRM and data platforms like Alpine IQ and maintain deep partnerships with other compliant infrastructure like Springbig . They handle custom campaign building, automated flows (abandoned cart, loyalty, welcome series), and list growth strategies.
    • MediaJel
      • Overview: MediaJel is widely recognized for data-driven customer acquisition and retention strategies tailored explicitly to the cannabis and dispensary ecosystem.
      • Email/SMS Strengths: They excel at integrating compliance-forward SMS marketing (often leveraging partnerships like Leafbuyer) alongside targeted email capture funnels. They focus heavily on utilizing POS data (such as Dutchie or Sweed) to trigger automated, compliant behavioral campaigns that drive recurring foot traffic and online orders.
    • PufCreativ
      • Overview: A dedicated cannabis and CBD creative marketing agency known for branding, content creation, and high-retention digital strategies.
      • Email/SMS Strengths: They offer targeted lifecycle marketing, helping brands build clean opt-in lists, design engaging compliant newsletters, and deploy automated retention text campaigns that cut through the noise without triggering compliance flags.
    • ColaDigital
      • Overview: A specialized digital marketing agency focusing on cannabis retail and brand visibility, operating across North America.
      • Email/SMS Strengths: They focus heavily on localized consumer retention, CRM setup, and ensuring that email/SMS sequences align tightly with regional compliance rules (which vary significantly from state to state or province to province).

    Key Capabilities to Look For During Your Search

    When interviewing these or other agencies, make sure they align with your technical and operational requirements:

    1. Platform Certification: Ensure they are fluent in cannabis-compliant data stacks like Alpine IQ or Springbig , or native POS-integrated marketing tools like Sweed . Standard mainstream tools (like Klaviyo or Drip) can work for certain hemp/CBD or international brands, but multi-state operator (MSO) or dispensary-heavy retail models usually require cannabis-specific infrastructure.
    2. Closed-Loop Attribution: Because a high percentage of cannabis conversions culminate in-store rather than online, ask how the agency ties email/SMS opens and clicks directly to actual point-of-sale register data.
    3. Regulatory Guardrails: The agency must demonstrate clear protocols for age-verification, opt-in compliance (TCPA compliance for text messaging), and state-specific promotional restrictions.

    Sources cited in this answer6

Also asked as

  • I need to find a marketing agency that handles email and SMS campaigns specifically for cannabis businesses.