Quid pro quo Philosophic Passage

This week’s biggest life lesson was about quid pro quo, the infamous Latin phrase meaning ‘something for something’.  We have seen this business tactic popping up in two intriguing instances.  The first was through Sonic the Hedgehog’s PR nightmare over that laughable new live-animation for his new movie.  A day later, the strategy was found through Mondelēz’s announcement of CBD-infused cookies and snacks.

Both parties heard what their audiences want in these ever-changing times.  They want a better design of Sonic the Hedgehog.  CBD-infused cookies and snacks made from one of the most popular food brands in the nation.  The audience asks the for the favor to make these ideas happen.

That right there is the quid.  The businesses create the pro quo – something in exchange for something particular to happen.  Animators will work even harder to fine tune Sonic the Hedgehog before his movie releases in November.  In return, those audiences should watch Sonic the Hedgehog when it comes out.

Circling back to the CBD cookies and snacks, Mondelēz will perform their own quid pro quo deals with their audiences as well.  They create their line of CBD-infused products for them; in exchange, they buy such cookies and snacks as well as communicate with their close ones about how amazing they are.

While the two sources of entertainment may be different in various ways, the quid pro quo scenario are very similar.  Both required help from their audience to keep operations running smoothly.  They do this through meeting important demands from their audiences, no matter how preposterous or superficial the criticism becomes.

Quid pro quo.  Something for something.  Nothing cannot be merely done without the exchange happening in return.

It’s connections like these that strings this blog along other distinctive, philosophical topics.  The scenarios played out this week serve as great examples for the simplistic, yet deep marketing tactic that is easy to follow.  All of this is just part of the amazing journey here at MakeSandcastlesNotWar.

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Corporate CBD Cookie PR Miracle

CBD is being infused within many snack items these days.  Gummies, chocolates, and even honey sticks are some of many tasty treats that can be found here in Massachusetts.  With cannabis laws becoming more relaxed around the nation, CBD products have been popping up in many places.  Businesses have been real creative with their line of products by adding CBD to the mix.

One such company that is looking to get into the CBD market is responsible for products such as the Nutter Butter, Oreo, Cadbury Chocolate, and even Chips Ahoy.  That company is none other than Mondelēz.

Mondelēz is looking to add cannabidiol (CBD) into some of their cookies and snacks.  They will release a new line of cookies with CBD as one of their key ingredients.  While you won’t find any CBD-infused Oreos or Chips Ahoy anytime soon, other CBD cookies and snacks are in the talks.

Here we are in 2019 and a big food company like Mondelēz is looking to add CBD into their line of cookies and snacks.  CBD has really become more and more mainstream, with various companies looking to get their share of the pie.  Whether it be big or small, every business has been looking into the cannabis industry for further innovation.  In this case, CBD is the hottest ingredient being infused into many food products.

This is the start of yet another amazing chapter for the cannabis industry here in America.  Through companies like Mondelēz, CBD continues to be become more mainstream in our society.  Different audiences are discovering the rise of cannabis in their own ways.  CBD-infused cookies or snacks are just some of many ways cannabis is becoming more normalized in our ever-changing societal landscape.

It is then that we can only hope that we will be consuming CBD-infused Oreos made by Mondelēz in the near future.

4/20 Saturday Quote (#420BlazeIt)

Happy 4/20 everyone!

Marijuana enhances our mind in a way that enables us to take a different perspective from ‘high up’, to see and evaluate our own lives and the lives of others in a privileged way. Maybe this euphoric and elevating feeling of the ability to step outside the box and to look at life’s patterns from this high perspective is the inspiration behind the slang term “high” itself.

~ Sebastian Marincolo

Hemp-Flavored Four Loko

April 20^th (a.k.a. 4/20) is coming up in just two days and many companies are gearing up for the celebration.  Dispensaries, smoke shops, hydroponics stores, other cannabis businesses are showcasing their latest marketing deals for their audiences.  4/20 is a big day for the cannabis community, so this is the chance for businesses to present the best of what they have to offer.

There are more and more businesses getting into the cannabis industry these days.  Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens are rolling out their own CBD topicals.  Restaurants are offering CBD infused cocktails to celebrate the special occasion.  Even if they are not directly related to the cannabis industry, various businesses are still looking to jump in on the bandwagon.

This year, Four Loko is getting a modern makeover with an added flavor that contains… hemp.

That’s right folks – Four Loko will release a hemp-flavored malt beverage.  The new Four Loko will contain 12% alcohol by volume.  It will come in a green camo color with a label declaring that it’s ‘best paired with junk food’.  Interestingly enough, this line of Four Lokos won’t contain hemp in them; rather, it will contain a hemp-flavor instead.  These beverages will be released just in time for 4/20 this year.

Four Loko is following the latest marketing trend of CBD infused alcoholic drinks.  Mixologists across the country have been utilizing CBD into their infused cocktails for quite a while now.  It isn’t just the legal states that are pushing CBD-infused alcoholic drinks.  Restaurants in New York City and Florida have been offering drinks infused with CBD.

With that, Four Loko is one of many alcohol beverage companies that is tapping into the CBD market.  As cannabis continues to grow in popularity, many businesses are brainstorming unique ways to use it for their own convenience.  It won’t be long until other alcohol companies infuse CBD into their own beverages.

Be sure to check out hemp-flavored Four Lokos at your nearest convenience store this year.

Bong Appetit Season 3 Cook-Off

It has been quite a while since new episodes of Bong Appétit aired on Viceland.  The 4/20-friendly cooking show featured Abdullah Saeed, Ry Pritchard, and Vanessa Lavorato as they dine through various cannabis-infused cuisines.  Abdullah hosts guests at the infamous Bong Appétit House for delightful cannabis-infused dinners.  Vanessa helps out with the cooking while Ry pitches his infusion ideas for the dishes.  Different chefs from various backgrounds enter the Bong Appétit kitchen to cook their own cultured dishes that are also infused with THC and CBD.  The last episode that aired was back in April 17^th 2018.

Bong Appétit was a unique cannabis cooking series that showcased all of the steps and ingredients necessary for a 4/20-friendly meal.  All types of foods from different cultures were infused with cannabis one way or another.  The show took cannabis edibles to the next level each time.

After merely a year in hiatus, Bong Appétit will be back on Viceland this year.  Bong Appétit will kick off its third season with a unique twist.  The third season will be hosted by Miguel Trinidad, Vanessa Lavorato, and B Real.  This season will have three chefs competing head-to-head to create the best infused dishes.  Each episode will showcase different chefs cooking different sets of food.

            I am definitely pumped for new episodes of Bong Appétit.  Bong Appétit is one of those intriguing cannabis cooking shows I can definitely get into.  Rather than be all silly and cliché (like Cooking While High), Bong Appétit gets to the science part as well.  There is a whole science that goes to the infusion of THC and CBD within certain meals.

Be sure to check out season three of Bong Appétit tonight on Viceland!