The 360° of Cannabis
We are a team made up of unique talents, industry experts, and local know-how.
We are a team made up of unique talents, industry experts, and local know-how offering clients a partner who not only deeply understands the market but taps into the collective experience of all our 13 offices across the US and Canada to develop a best in class strategy for every client.
Alaska
The S360 team fully managed the campaign to end marijuana prohibition in Alaska, becoming the first red state to pass such a measure and the third nationwide.
Arizona
The S360 team fully managed the campaign to S360 led in all aspects the strategy, language and execution of Smart & Safe Arizona – Act – Prop 207 that passed 60-40 with a unique blend of allies from the ACLU to local law enforcement.
New Mexico
S360 aided in establishing a new recreational cannabis market in New Mexico. Drafted and passed HB12, The Cannabis Regulation Act, specifically including language to allow for tribal compacts.
Provided close guidance with the NM Regulation and Licensing Department to develop the states new implementation rules of adult use of recreational cannabis.
Nevada
Drafted and passed AB 375 the legislation allowing for Tribal Compacts in Nevada. Drafted and got signed the first tribal compact in Nevada and several subsequent compacts.
Worked extensively and passed AB 341, authorizing cannabis consumption lounges. Currently working closely with the Cannabis Control Board to enact regulations on the same.
Oregon
S360 was instrumental in getting the cannabis industry off the ground in Oregon, and became a blueprint for states to follow.
Oregon Ballot Measure 91 was implemented through our advocacy work with the Oregon Cannabis Association, the largest industry trade organization in the state.
Worked closely with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission on rulemaking and licensure requirements for the industry as new businesses came online in the state.
Experience & Relationships Matter
Research Expertise
We know this issue. In addition to serving as pollster to Arizona Prop 207 in 2020, we have worked to overturn local medical bans across California, fended off other attacks on the cannabis industry in Colorado and Nevada, and helped industry clients advance their goals and grow their business. Our principals have helped administer the tri-weekly rolling tracking program for Marijuana Policy Project during Colorado’s Amendment 64 fight, as well as worked to help the Drug Policy Alliance in its legislative efforts to decriminalize marijuana in New Jersey. Moreover, our firm’s combined research and public affairs experience with dozens of cannabis-related clients adds expertise from multiple angles we can bring to bear on this project.
The Ability to Produce
a Winning Application
S360 has in-house staff that have written numerous license applications that have successfully produced dozens of licenses. Our team has expertise both on best practices for a competitive application and how to fully ascertain the state-specific criteria and politics that make each application unique. S360’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and broad depth of work with Native American Tribes are additional expertise we deploy within the application to advance these issues while enhancing a client’s competitiveness.
Strategy & Content Development
We identify and recruit third party outside expert opinions that can be deployed for business strategy, market research, content support for policymakers at both the regulatory, technical and decision-maker levels, rulemaking or bill testimony. Our teams provide weekly updates highlighting critical legislative and regulatory efforts.
The Playbook
S360 clients are privy to “the playbook” – an annual report with insights from state leads, ongoing proprietary cannabis market research run by S360, and recent campaign insights.
We specialize in solving tough problems.
Be it keeping problems at bay or managing the situation, we keep it contained.
When our New Mexico clients wanted unlimited plant counts and unlimited licenses, while advocates for micro businesses were more focused on how best to redress all the negative impacts of prior criminalization. The S360 team worked closely with supporters, opponents legislators and the executive branch to come up with a viable compromise that worked for all.
Despite Californians voting to legalize adult use marijuana in 2016, it remains largely unavailable in some of the biggest cities in the state. Our California team works closely to educate and build champions at the State level to encourage market expansion through incentives, reducing barriers, and provide resources to assist businesses that want to participate in the legal market.
Borders Mean Nothing We, always, are working both locally and nationally on Cannabis in preparation for the imminent Federal allowance. If an organization is looking to expand across state or national borders they require expertise only S360 can provide.
S360 New Mexico & Nevada successfully established tribal provisions in New Mexico’s new legislation, closely advised the state regulatory rulemaking and is now advancing both tribal and non-tribal license applications and joint ventures in both states.
We have successfully guided applicants through the license application process in multiple states. In a highly competitive environment, when cannabis businesses took our advice, they scored in the top tiers of applicants and were successfully awarded licenses.
S360 National Practice and its 50-state network aided S360 Nevada connect its client to the newly legalized New York recreational cannabis market, navigate the nascent regulatory regime and explore creation of a cannabis joint venture that may further scale into other states from this innovative collaboration.
S360’s footprint spans 30 offices and 13 states as well as Washington, D.C., Vancouver, B.C., Toronto, Ontario and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Balancing the Scales
More often regulated to single issue organizations, a DEI component allows organizations to “walk the talk” while expanding their cannabis program and making it more competitive in both license applications and the market itself. S360 weaves diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into every partnership program.
S360 Oregon secured $1M to provide justice-impacted communities with equal access to business opportunities in the cannabis sector by changing the process of expungement of past drug convictions and digitizing criminal records. Policy changes to allow expungement, combined with easily searchable records by courts, now removes barriers that often keep people from these important economic opportunities.
Local ordinances often include an equity requirement or an applicant can be more competitive by boosting their community commitments. S360’s community-based knowledge provides applicants a competitive edge and helps establish creative partnerships that meaningfully respond to equity goals.
Some established cannabis companies have incubator programs to help invest in equity brands. S360’s network and expertise can help vet and manage these types of investments.
Politics, it’s what we do.
Strategies 360’s model was inspired by Ron Dotzauer’s more than 40-year career in politics, which started in 1974, when he became the youngest elected county official in the state of Washington. Since that time, Ron has managed the successful campaigns of a governor, two U.S. Senators, and has successfully attracted and delivered wins for clients from Fortune 500 companies to local family-owned businesses. He has grown S360 from one office in Seattle to a powerhouse across the western U.S.
Some Examples of the “S360 effect”
Successfully led the efforts to legalize marijuana in two Republican states (AK/AZ)
Defeated the country’s most controversial mining project consistently over a 10 year period, in a red state (Alaska) where resource development projects never fail.
Successfully lobbied for the state funding in Nevada that allowed the Raiders to come to Las Vegas.
Successfully led an effort to defeat Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s run for re-election in Arizona.
We consistently deliver major election wins across the West– in 2020 alone our efforts resulted in nearly $19 billion in revenues for local communities over the next decade.
Our research team’s insightful research and analysis has been featured in such respected media outlets as The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, The National Journal, and Politico.
Local expertise,
International reach.
We provide unique value to our clients with our ability to collaborate seamlessly across multiple disciplines, and borders.
By working together across our vast footprint, our teams have redefined the best practices of public policy, business, marketing, branding and strategic communications.
Communications
● Media Relations
● Message Development
● Public Relations
● Reputation Management
● Strategy
Creative Services
● Advertising
● Branding
● Marketing Strategy, Planning, Management
● Media Strategy, Planning, Management
● Production Studio: Video & Design
● Social Media Content, Management
Web Development & Engineering
● UEX & Web Design
● Site Development
● Hosting & Ongoing Maintenance
Public Affairs & Government Relations
● Advocacy – local, state and federal
● Coalition Building
● Campaigns collateral, fundraising, and voter engagement
● License Applications
● Policy development, including rulemaking
Research
● Executive and Opinion Leader Research
● Message Development
● Public Opinion Polling
● Targeting and Segmentation
Branding, Advertising & Media Strategy
Our creative department is structured in three disciplines; brand, production, and advertising to work in concert and develop best in class work for our clients, and are available for unique projects or as agency of record. This interdisciplinary approach is best suited for our cannabis clients considering the complications of a retail brand rollout for each state.
Our brand strategy team specializes in developing scalable, strong brand foundations that withstand the test of time. Our advertising team develops a strategy that considers the changing climate of both the target audience and the state regulators, moreover our media team works with our state leads to consider all advertising regulations – sometimes from the onset of the rules writing. And finally our research team has developed a nimble approach to message testing alongside the advertising strategist to ensure we are pressure testing the right messages, at the right time.
We look forward to talking.
Please contact any of our cannabis team associates to learn more.
California
Alicia Priego
Senior Vice President
916-267-1511 | aliciap@Strategies360.com
Canada
Michael Gardiner
President, Strategies 360 Canada
778-836-2108 | michaelg@Strategies360.ca
Nevada
John Oceguera
Executive Vice President
702-688-0177 | johno@Strategies360.com
New Mexico
Josh Rosen
Senior Vice President
505-216-6025 | joshr@Strategies360.com
Oregon
Jennifer Williamson
Senior Vice President, Government Relations
503-781-7233 | jenniferw@Strategies360.com
Strategic Initiatives & National Practice
Patrick Baskette
Senior Vice President
202-744-1547 | patrickb@Strategies360.com
Washington D.C.
Andy Winer
Executive Vice President
808-227-5932 | andyw@Strategies360.com
Washington State (Headquarters)
Kurt Beckett
Chief Operating Officer
206-795-6510 | kurtb@Strategies360.com