An Oregon Cannabis Brand Grows, Naturally

Cedar and Madrone Grey always had a reverence for the therapeutic powers of cannabis. After witnessing firsthand the plant’s positive effects on those with critical medical conditions, Siskiyou Sungrown was born. However, the rest of the country hadn’t caught up yet. Originally, the Greys grew and sold through legal medicinal dispensaries, slowly building their customer base with a commitment to pure, whole-plant products harvested organically and sustainably in Williams, Oregon.

When full legalization was implemented in 2016, Siskiyou Sungrown remained the standard for quality cannabis—with Cedar serving under Governor Kate Brown as an Oregon Cannabis Commissioner and Siskiyou distributing to over 300 Oregon dispensaries. But with so many new cannabis brands lighting up the market, the Greys had a new opportunity to lean into. Furthermore, they felt a responsibility to help this new consumer understand the alphabet soup of CBD and THC products and why theirs is definitively a cut above the rest.

Now that 43% of Americans reside in states that have legalized cannabis, the number of brands has inflated along with investor confidence in this previously illicit market (Forbes). While Siskiyou’s North Star has always been a brighter future for medicinal cannabis usage, with so many other brands selling alongside them, it was getting harder for the consumer to see the differentiator.

Through our research, we learned that the industry was full of misunderstanding about what makes the most premium cannabis products.

Because of Siskiyou Sungrown’s organic farming techniques and history of quality, wellness-focused products, we spotted the opportunity to connect with people who prioritize the environment and sustainability. Not only would this consumer cross-section appreciate the brand’s core values, they would be supported by Siskiyou’s ethos and authority in the medical field.

Our team got to work clarifying Siskiyou’s brand position and messaging within the category to emphasize their conscientious, pioneering and intellectual approach to cannabis farming. Our logo evolution championed their home at the base of the Siskiyou Mountains and the importance of the land on their product.

We commissioned custom illustrations working with botanical illustrator?Charlotte Day?and a new natural color system evocative of the biodiversity, flora and fauna of the region, leaving no package fold unturned. We also developed an icon library to call attention to key product messaging as educational moments for potentially confused consumers.

These design elements all work in harmony to demonstrate the skill, craftsmanship and natural, unconventional approach used by Siskiyou to make Oregon’s finest cannabis products.

The Greys took to the new brand right away, its many elements resonate with their initial values in building their first farm all those years ago. Even with a product of increasing ubiquity as laws and consumer opinion continue to evolve, it’s still possible to differentiate.

Leveraging the people, the place, personality and all the details surrounding a brand will ultimately bring truth, authenticity and meaning to its identity.

Products are more than what’s on the box—they’re about everything that led to having that box in the first place.