Weedmaps vs Leafly - Which is Better? -

If you are interested in trying quality delta products, check out our sister brand, Otterspace.

A cannabis platform, or a cannabis marketplace, takes out the frustration of searching endlessly for an offering that suits your individual needs. Some may be looking for particular strains that are not local to their area, while others aren’t even sure where to start.

The education factor is also immensely important before purchasing and using a new cannabis product. Weedmaps and Leafly have tapped into that need and built out entire sections dedicated to educating the masses. This may even grow in time as more states become open to selling, distributing, and using CBD and other cannabis products. 

Weedmaps is a cannabis technology platform that connects cannabis consumers, patients, retailers, doctors, and other brands. According to their 2021 Insights Report, cannabis delivery among Generation Z consumers increased by 125% year over year, with overall delivery increasing by 97%.

Similarly, as they focus on local communities and social equity, Weedmaps found some key industry points worth noting including:

• 54% of cannabis consumers have a favorite brand

• 3 out of every 4 cannabis consumers say that everyone, or almost everyone, knows that they use cannabis

• 57% of consumers believe that everyone benefits from a more inclusive cannabis marketplace

For additional findings, check out the full report here.

Weedmaps is quite a robust option for consumers to use as they search for cannabis products. Their website consists of 8 sections including:

Dispensaries - Here you can search for dispensaries in your area. It’s super intuitive too with options to search for storefronts, delivery, order online, license types, and even stores with curbside pickup.

Deliveries - The delivery tab offers users the chance to find brands that deliver and do curbside pickup. In your search you can even determine if you’re looking for medical or recreational cannabis.

Products - This is a great tool to browse product categories like vape pens, flower, concentrates, edibles, topicals, cannabis gear, and pre-rolls.

Brands - Weedmaps breaks down their brands by leaderboards or hot brands in your area. You can also search by top rated or most viewed selections.

Deals - Who doesn’t love a good deal? Weedmaps finds online promo codes and nearby deals to save you money.

Strains - You can search popular strains here and figure out the one that works best for you based on flavor and effects.

Learn - This is a great resource to learn about cannabis terminology, history, laws, and how the body processes different strains. They even have a dictionary to help with industry jargon.

News - Find all of your cannabis-based updates here for information on the industry and new products coming to market. -+

Consumers can easily search the website for free, but cannabis companies can choose from different options to list their products or have Weedmaps help with advertising/marketing, operations, and ecommerce.

Their business platform is broken down into three sections:

• Consumers - Are free to use the services to find products, learn about cannabis, and find reviews from others customers.

• Brands - Weedmaps builds brand awareness and networks with retailers to help consumers find a brand’s products and services.

• Retailers - Weedmaps helps retailers get in front of new cannabis customers and may even help to manage online ordering and fulfillment. 

Leafly is a platform that can be used to find cannabis products and order from legal, licensed retailers. They have around 100 million visitors to their website every year and place more than 4 million orders annually. They also have:

• 4,600+ online retailers they work with

• 1.3+ million product reviews 

• 5,000+ strains in their database

Similar to Weedmaps their website has 9 sections to note including:

Delivery - A new feature to the site that has same-day weed delivery based on your location. They also have a FAQ section to explain length, cost, taxes, and tipping for deliveries.

Dispensaries - A breakdown of local dispensaries where you can filter for recreational, medical, by CBD or Delta, and deals in the area.

Deals - Leafly finds local deals and has a ton of BOGO options for edibles, cartridges, and even accessories. They also have a section that deals with dispensary promotions that can be claimed in-store.

Strains - You can search by popular strain types (ex: indica, sativa, hybrid) in your area and even search by the intended weed strain effect.

Products - Leafly’s products range in type to strength and feature popular options based on your location as well. 

CBD - This option is for those looking for hemp-derived products without the high feeling associated with THC based products.

Doctors - This search page allows you to filter local doctors that prescribe medical marijuana for various medical and/or chronic conditions. 

Cannabis 101 - Leafly provides a breakdown of education and information on ways to consume cannabis and types of cannabis on the market. 

Social Impact - This section highlights advocacy projects and provides ways to get involved in local and national projects. 

Leafly itself is free to use for customers, but businesses can also list their brands and products similar to Weedmaps. You have the ability to book a demo or get in contact about additional costs/fees.

They have two options:

• Starter - Includes a menu, POS integration, ability to post deals, ability to take pre-orders for next business day

• Pro - Includes better placements around Leafly, customization options, unlimited deals postings, and a competitive analysis of the market

Weedmaps and Leafly are both well-known options throughout the industry, but there are other options to explore. This includes:

High Tide - Serves Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. seeing over 100 million site visits throughout 2020. They were also featured in the 2021 Report on Business Magazine’s ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies.

Eaze - California’s largest legal cannabis marketplace that also serves Michigan. They have provided more than 7 million legal deliveries and have 2 million registered customers that they serve. While they may not serve the rest of the country they do have a large social equity and impact arm that is working to support social and economic initiatives in the cannabis community.

Leaflink - Connects over 8,000 retailers with 3,400+ brands and distributors. They are a B2B platform that helps growing cannabis businesses manage sales and accelerate growth.

While there are other platforms to use, these three are rising in the industry. Still, Weedmaps and Leafly are some of the best options for consumers looking to educate themselves and find local products for pickup and delivery. 

Check out both websites and click around to see which one serves you best. Weedmaps has a comprehensive education section, which is great for learning more about the industry and cannabis products.

However, Leafly’s delivery section is similarly immersive with an extensive FAQ section great for understanding how the delivery process works.

The best marketplace for you should depend on what you are looking to get out of the process. If you’re looking for educational resources, then Weedmaps may be a better choice. However, for immersive delivery options Leafly could serve that for you.

You should also consider the brands and products that you are interested in using. If you find that one marketplace does not offer what you are looking for, then you can always try the other to see if they offer it. 

You may also want to consider researching the brands offered on both marketplaces. It’s best to find a brand that has the proper lab accreditation and promotes safe industry practices.

At Otterspace, our mission is to rediscover the potential of cannabis through properly dosed and carefully crafted products. In this endeavor we always source the highest-quality ingredients via locally grown hemp that is then cleanly extracted and tested for potency, quality, and contamination.

Always look for brands that take pride in their sourcing and extraction process. 

Just as the industry changes, so do the offerings throughout the various marketplaces. Weedmaps and Leafly serve consumers and businesses through industry expansion and as educational platforms. 

Whether you’re searching through Weedmaps or Leafly, keep in mind what you’re looking to learn or purchase. 

In the meantime, you can also check out our  blog for more information on CBD, delta-8, delta-9 products, and industry insights.