RE:RE:Pharmacies, generics, brands and strains "Branding" has an uphill battle. There's a huge gap between what companies want to do and what government will allow. I still maintain that strain and price will be the two top deciding factors for consumer.
Ask anyone who is a customer of dispensaries. I hang around and ask questions "for market research purposes". People love to chat when you approach them with a smile and welcoming manner. "Excuse me, I'm doing market research, do you have a minute for a few questions". In rougher neighbourhoods everyone takes a free $5 but in most cases, it doesn't cost me a dime. It's strains and price. People get very, very attached to some strains and will go to extremes to advocate for them.
Here's a relevant article on branding restrictions:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-19/canada-details-packaging-rules-ahead-of-marijuana-legalization "“Consistent with the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation’s recommendation to require plain packaging of cannabis products, the regulations would set strict requirements related to the use of branding, logos, and colors,” Health Canada said in the report from Ottawa."
I would agree branding would be more significant if it wasn't for the strict Government oversight.