Scaling the Global Leader in Cannabis Through Compliant Performance Marketing
Result:
Problem Statement
Curaleaf faced the “Cannabis Ceiling”, a series of digital hurdles that prevent even the largest brands from scaling:
Platform Restriction & Account Risk
Constant threat of Google Ads account suspension due to stringent (and often inconsistent) cannabis advertising policies.
The "Leaky" Conversion Funnel
High bounce rates on landing pages due to poor integration between ad creative and third-party menus.
High Acquisition Costs
Reliance on broad, non-compliant keywords led to high CPCs and inefficient spend, driving up the overall CAC.
Attribution Gaps
Inability to accurately track the user journey from a Google click to a physical in-store purchase or a completed online checkout.
Spokes Solutions
As a specialized performance partner, Spokes Digital deployed a sophisticated “Growth & Compliance” framework:
We implemented a proprietary AI auditing layer that sanitized ad copy and landing pages in real-time, focusing on "wellness" and "retail experience" terminology to satisfy Google’s auditors while maintaining consumer intent.
Instead of broad-match targeting, we deployed radius-targeting around Curaleaf’s 150+ locations, ensuring ads only served to users within immediate driving distance, maximizing local search intent.
We solved the tracking gap by implementing advanced event tracking that follows the user through the menu integration, providing Curaleaf with a clear view of which campaigns drove the highest-value transactions.
Developed high-speed, mobile-first landing pages that seamlessly integrated with Curaleaf’s inventory, reducing the friction between "Search" and "Add to Cart."
Leveraged machine learning to shift budgets dynamically toward high-performing hours and locations, ensuring zero wastage during low-traffic periods.