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ColaDigital Research

Cannabis Marketing Research and Original Studies

We look at what shoppers really see when they search for a dispensary or ask AI where to buy weed. Every study uses live results, real dispensaries and numbers you can check.

See the Studies

  • 400AI answers checked for price accuracy
  • 1,200+AI answers checked against license records, websites and listings
  • 156live Google searches run across 39 cities

Our Studies

Three studies so far, newest first. Each one ends with things you can check or fix on your own dispensary.

November 2026 · AI and Prices

What AI Tells Shoppers About Cannabis Prices, and How to Fix It

Five AI tools quoted prices and deals for cheap weed in 20 cities. We checked 560 of their claims against live dispensary menus.

In 66 of the 69 price misses, the AI quoted more than the menu.

Read the Price Study

November 2026 · AI and Dispensary Details

When AI Gets Your Dispensary Wrong, and How to Fix It

We put the questions shoppers ask about 40 dispensaries to five AI tools, then checked more than 1,200 answers against license records, websites and Google listings.

The top-rated dispensary in each city got a clear recommendation in only 45 of 100 answers.

Read the AI Answers Study

October 2026 · Google Search and AI Overviews

Who Owns Dispensary Search? Local Stores, Weedmaps and AI in 39 Cities

We compared Google's first page in 35 cities across two years, then ran 156 live searches in 39 cities to see who shows up and who the AI Overviews link to.

Independent dispensaries held the top spot for "dispensary [city]" in 21 of 35 cities.

Read the Search Study

Which Study Should You Read First?

  • If you're worried shoppers hear the wrong prices or deals, start with the price study
  • If you want to know whether AI describes and recommends your dispensary correctly, start with the AI answers study
  • If you're wondering who wins the Google results in your city and whether Weedmaps still matters, start with the search study

How We Run Our Studies

  • We use live results from the day we collect them, never memory or guesses
  • We check AI answers against what the dispensary itself publishes, like its menu, its website and its license record
  • When a finding is negative, we describe what went wrong and leave the dispensary's name out
  • Each study page explains its method and its limits, so you can judge the numbers yourself

Writers and researchers are welcome to quote any of our numbers. Credit ColaDigital and link back to the study you used. Learn more about Vee Popat, who runs every study.

Questions About Our Research

Can I Quote Your Numbers in an Article?+

Yes. Use any figure from a study, name ColaDigital as the source and link to the study page. If you need a number explained, ask Vee.

Do the Studies Name Dispensaries?+

Not when the finding is negative. We show what the AI said and what the dispensary's own page showed, and we leave the name out.

What Should I Do After Reading One?+

Check your own dispensary the same way. The two AI studies end with fixes you can start on today, and Vee is around if you want a hand with what you find.

Talk Through Your Own Results

If one of these studies has you questioning your own dispensary, talk it over with Vee. He'll be straight with you about whether it's worth worrying about and where to start. Our dispensary SEO work covers the rest.

Talk to Vee