Weedmaps

A 2009 New York Daily News article said of Weedmaps, "There's a new stoner's paradise on the Web" that is a website "where medical marijuana patients can connect with other patients in their area, to freely discuss and review local cannabis co-operatives and dispensaries."{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/03/16/2009-03-16_new_web_site_weedmapscom_helps_you_find_.html|title= New Web site, Weedmaps.com, helps you find medical marijuana near you|publisher=NYDailyNews.com|date=2009-03-12|accessdate = September 21, 2013 | location=New York | first=Catey | last=Hill}} In November 2010 WeedMaps was acquired by General Cannabis Incorporated for an undisclosed amount. As part of acquisition, founder Justin Hartfield became WeedMaps' Chief Web Officer.{{citation |url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/06/05/vc-firm-hopes-for-high-returns-with-1-million-fund-for-marijuana/|title=VC Firm hopes for high returns with fund for marijuana|date=June 5, 2013 |publisher=VentureBeat|accessdate=January 22, 2017}}{{citation|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/21/general-cannabis-weedmaps/|title=Passing The Joint (Venture): General Cannabis Inhales WeedMaps|date=November 21, 2010 |publisher=TechCrunch|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

Although the company does not disclose revenue figures, some media outlets have reported historical sales estimates for the company. For example, a 2010 TechCrunch article reported that Weedmaps grew monthly revenue of $20,000 in 2009 to $400,000 per month in 2010, with approximately 50,000 registered users at the time.{{citation|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/10/18/weedmaps-tops-400000-a-month-in-revenues-public-listing-imminent/|title=WeedMaps Tops $400,000 a Month in Revenues, Public Listing Imminent|date=October 18, 2010 |publisher=TechCrunch|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

In November 2011 Weedmaps acquired Marijuana.com for $4.2 million. The acquisition included the Marijuana.com domain name as well as all of the site's content.{{citation|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/11/28/weedmaps-acquires-marijuana-com-for-a-kushy-4-20-million/|title=Weedmaps Acquires Marijuana.com for a Kushy $4.20 Million|publisher=TechCrunch|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

In February 2013 General Cannabis sold all cannabis-related businesses, including WeedMaps, back to the original founders.{{citation|url=http://www.nwbud.com/2013/02/weedmaps-founders-buy-weedmaps-back-from-general-cannabis/|title=WeedMaps Founders Buy WeedMaps Back From General Cannabis|publisher=nwbud.com|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

In June 2013, Hartfield and business partner and COO Doug Francis formally announced the formation of Ghost Group and its offspring, the Emerald Ocean Capital firm, the first marijuana Venture Capital firm to connect and invest through "Emerging Companies in Legal Cannabis and Medical Marijuana Sectors."{{citation|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130605-906914.html|title=Venture Capital Firm Ghost Group Launches Marijuana Industry Fund|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 21, 2013|archive-date=September 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916004157/http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130605-906914.html|url-status=dead}}{{citation |url=http://www.ocbj.com/news/2013/jun/06/vc-firm-launches-legal-cannabis-fund/|title=VC Firm Launches Legal Cannabis Fund|date=June 5, 2013 |publisher=Orange County Business Journal|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

Also in June 2013, Business Insider dubbed Hartfield "The First Venture Capitalist of The Pot Industry."{{citation |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-justin-hartfield-marijuanas-first-venture-capitalist-2013-6|title=Justin Hartfield Is About To Become The First Venture Capitalist Of The Pot Industry|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

In October 2011, Weedmaps entered into an online partnership with NORML.org, helping to revamp the site. This partnership signified Weedmaps' effort to aid legalization efforts and take a more active approach within the marijuana community.{{citation |url=http://www.theweedblog.com/norml-partners-with-weedmaps-to-revamp-normlorg/|title=NORML Partners with Weedmaps to Revamp NORML.org|publisher=The Weed Blog|accessdate = September 21, 2013}}

In August 2019, Weedmaps launched a 30,000 square-foot Museum of Weed in West Hollywood, "aimed at destigmatizing cannabis", telling the story of cannabis prohibition over the last century. The museum finished its 3-month run at the end of October. There is no news on the next destination for the museum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/24/business/museum-of-weed-weedmaps-hollywood/index.html|title=A 'Museum of Weed' is coming to Hollywood|last=Wallace|first=Alicia|website=CNN|date=June 24, 2019|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/weedmaps-museum-of-weed-hollywood-1203290130/|title='It's a Stoned World After All': Weedmaps' Museum of Weed Offers a Trip Through Time|last=Trakin|first=Roy|date=2019-08-02|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-weedmaps-museum-hollywood-20190625-story.html|title=Weedmaps bringing a pop-up Museum of Weed to Hollywood|date=2019-06-25|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}}

In 2021, the Company went public via SPAC transaction with Stock Ticker $MAPS.

In September 2021, Weedmaps acquired Sprout, a leading cannabis CRM and marketing software company, from Jaret Christopher and a group of investors for $29.6 million.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title=WM Technology, Inc. Acquires Leading Cannabis CRM & Marketing Platform Sprout |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210914005153/en/WM-Technology-Inc.-Acquires-Leading-Cannabis-CRM-Marketing-Platform-Sprout |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |date=2021-09-14 |title=WM Technology, Inc. acquired Sprout from Jaret Christopher and other sellers for $29.6 million. -September 13, 2021 {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/WM-TECHNOLOGY-INC-123820628/news/WM-Technology-Inc-acquired-Sprout-from-Jaret-Christopher-and-other-sellers-for-29-6-million-36432182/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en}}

Weedmaps.com provides adult use and medical marijuana dispensary locations (including updated menus and reviews), doctors' offices, brands, and delivery services throughout the United States and Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/weedmaps-wants-to-be-a-yelp-for-cannabis-clubs/|title=WeedMaps Wants To Be A Yelp For Cannabis Clubs|website=TechCrunch|date=March 12, 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}} Consumers can also place online orders for products from dispensaries or delivery services via the site. The site also has sections for industry news, learning about cannabis and strain information.

Weedmaps is the most widely used and downloaded marijuana mobile application on the Google Play and the Apple App Store.{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/search?q=weedmaps&c=apps|title=weedmaps – Android Apps on Google Play|website=play.google.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weedmaps-marijuana-cannabis/id350189835|title=Weedmaps: Marijuana & Cannabis|website=App Store|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-03}} The application offers similar functionality to the website but does not allow ordering, due to Google and Apple's restrictions.

In April 2019, Weedmaps launched their wholesale exchange platform, WM Exchange.{{Cite web|url=https://www.directcannabisnetwork.com/weedmaps-wholesale-marketplace/|title=Weedmaps Launches WM Exchange, A Wholesale Marketplace|last=dcnetwork|date=2019-05-02|website=Direct Cannabis Network|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{cite news |last1=Logan |first1=Gerald |title=Medical Cannabis |url=https://releaf.co.uk/ |access-date=4 December 2023}} It is currently available in California and Oklahoma.

In 2022, Weedmaps had to lay off employees amidst a "tough stretch" for the cannabis-reviews site. Weedmaps CEO Chris Beals stepped down from his office in November 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/weedmaps-cannabis-company-layoffs-cutting-workforce-2022-12/|title=Cannabis-tech firm Weedmaps is cutting up to 25% of its employees as the industry's downturn continues|last=Berke, Jeremy|date=2022-12-06|website=Business Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2023-09-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://wheelhouseph.com/weedmaps-best-dispensaries-near-me/|title=Weedmaps.com Lays Off 25% Employees|last=Wheelhouse Staff|date=2022-12-24|website=Wheelhouse|language=en-US|access-date=2023-09-14}} Weedmaps still remains a top cannabis platform despite its layoffs.

In December 2011, Weedmaps acquired MMJMenu, a Denver-based software entity that "provides back-end enterprise software for medical marijuana dispensaries. The software handles everything from patient management to inventory control to checkout at point of sale."{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/28/weedmaps-buys-medical-marijuana-inventory-and-patient-management-software-mmjmenu/|title=WeedMaps Buys Medical Marijuana Inventory And Patient Management Software MMJMenu|website=TechCrunch|date=December 28, 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}} MMJMenu allows medical marijuana businesses to track their sales and revenue from seed to sale, servicing medical marijuana states such as California, Colorado, Washington, and Michigan.

In September 2019, Weedmaps announced the launch of its own point-of-sale system, WM Retail, and announced live menu integrations for consumers using Cova or Meadow point-of-sale systems.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-27 |title=Weedmaps Introduces WM Retail and WM Exchange to Cannabis Businesses in Oklahoma |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190927005075/en/Weedmaps-Introduces-WM-Retail-and-WM-Exchange-to-Cannabis-Businesses-in-Oklahoma |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}

In 2016, a study by Fakespot found many reviews on the site to be suspicious. Weedmaps mistakenly leaked data showing that the majority of reviewers were from a small group of IPs that all gave good reviews of the site which means that individual users were leaving multiple reviews. An independent analysis of the text of reviews estimates that 62% of reviews are fake.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-weedmaps-data-breach-20160817-snap-story.html|title=Weedmaps — a Yelp for pot — is riddled with suspicious reviews|date=2016-08-24|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}} Fakespot CSO Ming Ooi gave Weedmaps an F-grade.

As of 2020, Weedmaps has rolled out "Verified Reviews" and other automated review moderation solutions to improve review quality. Fakespot has to date not responded to requests for an updated audit.

{{cite news |last1=Peter |first1=Jeff |title=Weed delivery Niagara Falls |url=https://www.howhigh420.com/weed-delivery-niagara-falls/ |access-date=23 November 2021}}

After the passing of adult-use cannabis in California through Proposition 64, Weedmaps continued to list dispensaries that had previously advertised on the site, expecting they would receive licenses. Many in the industry criticized the decision to keep them on the site after the grace period for dispensaries that had been operating under Proposition 215 expired in early 2019. In August 2019, the company announced it would only allow state-licensed dispensaries to be advertised on the site, allowing clients until the end of the year to update their license information.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/marijuana/2019/08/22/weedmaps-stop-advertising-unlicensed-pot-businesses/wWhKGkrwtN6FoKkgHbDnpL/story.html|title=Weedmaps to stop advertising unlicensed pot businesses |work=The Boston Globe|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}}

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• {{Official website|https://weedmaps.com}}

Category:Cannabis companies of the United States

Category:American social networking websites

Category:Internet properties established in 2008

Category:2008 in cannabis

Category:Companies based in Irvine, California

Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2008 establishments in California