Denver-Based COHN Marketing Launches COHNNABIS: Cannabis Industry-Dedicated "Agency Within An Agency"

COHN Marketing, a full-service integrated marketing, brand, creative, digital, social media and public relations agency, is proud to announce the launch of COHNNABIS, the agency's division dedicated to supporting the brand and marketing needs of the cannabis industry. As one of Denver's top 10 marketing agencies, COHNNABIS will bring more than 17 years of experience across a variety of verticals – from real estate to retail, health care, non-profits, B2B, professional services and food & beverage to the cannabis industry.

Since Colorado began legal sales of adult-use cannabis in 2014, COHN has supported the brand, digital, marketing, packaging, social media and PR needs of dispensaries, products, venture capital backed start-ups, and allied companies that sell to the industry. COHN / COHNNABIS clients are both local and national, and are on the leading edge of innovation in the cannabis industry.

COHN has been a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) since 2014, and COHNNABIS is a cementing of the agency's commitment to the industry and the work being done to promote legal cannabis use.

In support of the agency's dedication to the industry, COHNNABIS has hiredTaylor West, former deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, as senior communications director. By adding West's cannabis industry insight and in-depth strategic communications experience to COHN's long-established and respected expertise in integrated marketing, COHNNABIS is setting a new standard for companies serious about building a compelling, effective, and authentic brand within the industry.

"We are so excited to welcome Taylor to the COHN and COHNNABIS family and put her unique combination of skills and knowledge to work for our clients," said Jeff Cohn, president and CEO of COHN Marketing. "The cannabis industry is exploding with growth and intense competition. The companies aiming for true staying power need sophisticated partners who understand this space inside and out. Taylor brings that to COHNNABIS clients in spades."

Since January 2014, West has served as second-in-command at NCIA, the cannabis industry's largest trade association and the most valuable source for federal advocacy, education, and business development in the industry. During her time at NCIA, the organization has grown from approximately 300 member-businesses to nearly 1,400, and West has become a high-profile representative of the industry in global media, standing up for the respect and fair treatment of responsible, professional cannabis businesses across the United States.

"There is no community more interesting, exciting, or rapidly evolving than the cannabis industry, and I've been honored to contribute to that community through NCIA for the last four years," said West. "I'm excited to continue that work with an agency as respected and forward-thinking as COHN. The industry's businesses deserve the best, most professional strategic services, and that's what we'll be bringing to the table for COHNNABIS clients.

"It's especially meaningful to me that COHN and COHNNABIS are committed not only to great professional work, but also to supporting the advocacy and policy efforts that make our industry possible."

Prior to joining NCIA, West spent more than a decade in communications and leadership positions in the political, policy, nonprofit, and business arenas. In addition to her work for COHNNABIS, she will also provide high-level expertise to COHN clients across additional verticals including healthcare, business-to-business, and public-private partnerships. West joined COHN on August 7.