DON’T PUT YOUR ENTIRE CANNABIS EMPIRE IN MARK ZUCKERBERG’S BACK POCKET

Why Every Cannabis Business Needs to Stop Relying on Facebook Before It’s Too Late

If your entire cannabis business depends on one Facebook account… congratulations—you’ve built your house on a folding table.

One restriction, one suspension, one algorithm having a bad day, and suddenly years of hard work disappear faster than a joint at a family barbecue.

I’ve lived it.

More than once.

And if you’re serious about growing in this industry, let me save you from learning this lesson the hard way.

Stop Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket

The biggest mistake I ever made was believing Facebook was enough.

It wasn’t.

Like many people, I created other accounts through Facebook because it was quick and convenient. Sounds smart, right?

Wrong.

The moment Facebook restricted my account, it affected my connected Instagram account too because Facebook controlled both.

Lesson learned.

I eventually created a completely separate Instagram account that wasn’t tied to Facebook at all. Since then, whenever Facebook decides to put me in timeout, my independent Instagram keeps running just fine.

That’s the difference between owning your audience and borrowing it.

If you’re creating social media accounts today, create them independently whenever possible. Don’t hand one platform the keys to every door in your business.

Diversify.

Always.

Every Platform Reaches Different People

Here’s something many businesses don’t understand.

You’re not looking for the same audience over and over.

You’re looking for more audiences.

The cannabis community isn’t hiding in one place.

Some people live on YouTube.

Others spend all day on Instagram.

Some love X.

Some are scrolling Twitch.

Others never leave TikTok.

Every platform introduces you to people who may have never discovered your brand otherwise.

If your content only exists on Facebook, you’re voluntarily ignoring thousands of potential customers every single day.

That’s like opening a dispensary and locking four out of the five entrance doors.

My Platform Lineup

Today I spread my content everywhere I reasonably can.

My YouTube channel.

The Plug’s Pages Magazine.

Instagram.

X.

TikTok.

Twitch.

Each one serves a different purpose.

Each one reaches different people.

And most importantly…

None of them should have the power to erase everything I’ve built overnight.

My Experience with Facebook vs. X

Everyone’s experience with social media is different, but here’s mine.

Facebook has been the platform where I’ve dealt with the most restrictions, suspensions, reduced visibility, and frustration while creating cannabis content.

X has been almost the complete opposite.

In my personal experience, it has allowed me to speak far more openly without constantly wondering if today’s post will be tomorrow’s violation.

Whether you’re discussing cannabis genetics, legalization, product reviews, or simply expressing an opinion, that freedom matters to creators.

Personally, I believe more power should rest with users deciding what they want to engage with rather than platforms making every decision for them.

I’ve also documented situations where I believe criticism directed toward Facebook moderators or policies was followed by additional actions against my account. I have preserved evidence relating to my own experiences and intend to present it publicly at the appropriate time.

You can agree or disagree.

I’m simply sharing what happened to me.

Running Your Online Presence Is Practically a Full-Time Job

Let’s be honest.

Growing cannabis is work.

Running a dispensary is work.

Breeding genetics is work.

Manufacturing products is work.

Operating a business is work.

Now add…

Writing content.

Filming videos.

Editing.

Posting.

Replying to comments.

Managing Facebook.

Managing Instagram.

Managing YouTube.

Managing X.

Managing TikTok.

Managing Twitch.

Writing magazine articles.

Keeping up with ever-changing platform rules.

Trying to figure out why one post reaches 20,000 people while the next one reaches your mom and one guy named Steve.

It’s exhausting.

Before long, you’re spending more time fighting algorithms than growing your business.

That’s Where I Come In

Here’s the truth.

I’m not looking to work for just anybody.

If I don’t believe in your product, I’m probably going to pass.

But if you have quality flower…

Quality concentrates…

Quality genetics…

Quality apparel…

Quality accessories…

Or anything that genuinely helps move the cannabis community forward…

Let’s talk.

People who know me already know how I operate.

I don’t make one video, collect a check, and disappear.

I go hard.

When I believe in something, I become part of the team.

I’ve promoted businesses for little or no money simply because I believed they deserved more attention.

Ask them.

Seriously.

Reach out.

Ask whether I still mention them years later.

Ask whether I still support them.

The answer will tell you everything you need to know.

Promotion Isn’t an Expense—It’s an Investment

Some companies spend thousands on advertising that nobody remembers.

I’d rather create content people actually want to watch.

Funny content.

Honest reviews.

Magazine articles.

Videos.

Interviews.

Event coverage.

Community engagement.

That’s what builds trust.

That’s what builds loyal customers.

If your marketing budget is small, don’t assume you can’t afford promotion.

Reach out anyway.

We’ll figure something out.

Because if I genuinely believe in what you’re building, I want to help people discover it.

Final Hit

The cannabis industry moves fast.

Social media changes even faster.

Don’t let one platform decide whether your business lives or dies.

Build everywhere.

Own your audience.

Create independent accounts.

Diversify your reach.

And never—ever—put your entire cannabis empire into one basket…

Especially if that basket is Facebook.

Because trust me…

You don’t want years of hard work disappearing faster than your buddy saying,

“Bro…I only took one hit.”

⸻

About the Author

OG Strain is the creator of Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis) on YouTube and a contributing writer for The Plug’s Pages Magazine. Known for his honest cannabis reviews, industry commentary, and signature sense of humor, OG Strain is passionate about helping quality cannabis businesses grow through authentic content, storytelling, and community-driven promotion. If you’ve got a product you truly believe in and you’re looking for someone who will promote it like it’s family, reach out. Great cannabis deserves to be discovered.