Joint marketing

Since the beginning of this blog, I have wanted to tap into the intelligence and creativity of my readers by way of a contest. I just couldn’t think of the right topic. Until now.

I don’t want to get in trouble with the Federal Trade Commission or any other authority so I’ll be keeping the terms vague until I have a winner. The prize will be a surprise.

Here’s what got me thinking. A blog associated with Fast Company magazine recently ran a post entitled “Don’t Bogart That Name:  Medical Marijuana Trademarks,” which speculates about how companies hypothetically gaining approval to sell marijuana products would brand and market them. The speculation is based on the outcome of California’s Proposition 19 (“Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010”), to be put before voters this fall.

We know that product marketing is largely about branding. No doubt, lots of smart, clever people are already hard at work coming up with catchy brand names that will prompt Americans to ask their doctors about marijuana, should laws become relaxed. But we also know from the billions of dollars spent on drug advertising each year, it’s also all about product disclosure.

There is currently one branded cannabis-based drug on the market today, Marinol, that is approved for medicinal purposes, as medical marijuana has already been approved in several states.

The U.S. government and the makers of Marinol caution patients that the drug could cause, among other side effects: red eyes, weakness, sleepiness, elevated mood, sudden warm feeling, memory loss, anxiety, confusion, dizziness, unsteady walking, strange or unusual thoughts or “feeling like you are outside of your body.”

Here’s the contest.

Pretend Proposition 19 has been approved, regulations are in place for general use of marijuana and no judicial challenges are pending.

You are heading up the brand team for a company planning to get in on the action. What would be your 1. brand name, 2. tag line and 3. side effect disclosure statement?

Here’s an example to get you thinking.  “Cannibrex, the twice-daily treatment for excessive motivation. Caution:  Cannibrex can cause dry mouth, severe procrastination, uncontrollable laughter, lost train of thought or fear of the telephone. Tell your doctor if you have eaten a whole cherry pie, bag of semisweet chocolate chips, sleeve of stale saltine crackers or have considered dipping into the box of baking soda in your empty refrigerator.”

Please submit your entries via the Comments section by Wednesday, August 18^th. Winner(s) will be announced later in the week.

Please remember Word Nymph doesn’t post on Sundays. She’ll be mulling prize ideas.