Leafly Unveils Mainstream Cannabis News and Information Site

SEATTLE, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Leafly (leafly.com) has introduced a cannabis News and Culture section, covering topics ranging from industry news to advocacy efforts and resources for people new to cannabis, including FAQs, how-to guides, advice for choosing a dispensary, and a dispensary patient "bill of rights." Described as "Yelp" for medical cannabis patients, Leafly helps connect patients to the cannabis strains and dispensaries that meet their medical needs through a safe, straightforward and informative online environment.  Leafly features over 50,000 patient-generated reviews of more than 500 cannabis strains, along with 22,000 patient reviews of 3,300 dispensaries in the U.S., Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Israel.

"This is a big step forward for cannabis patients," said Christian Groh, Vice President of Sales at Leafly and partner of Privateer Holdings. "Expanding Leafly's education and information resources will allow patients to make informed decisions about their treatment in a mainstream, professional environment."

To lead the expansion, Leafly hired Rebecca Kelley as the company's new Content & Community Manager. Kelley brings almost a decade of experience in online content development and marketing to the Leafly team. In her new role, Kelley will oversee a team of four content creators tasked with developing Leafly into a leading news and culture resource for cannabis patients. Previously, Kelley served as content marketing manager for Intego (an industry leader in Mac antivirus and security software), and held similar positions at This or That Media and SEOmoz.

"I'm thrilled to join the smart, passionate Leafly team and feel we can transform cannabis culture beyond the standard stereotypes into a more professional and thoughtful industry," said Kelley. "My goal is to make Leafly the leading source of information for both patients and people who want to learn about cannabis in a mature, comfortable setting."

Leafly was acquired in 2011 by Privateer Holdings, the first private equity fund investing in the legal cannabis industry. Since acquisition, Leafly has been transformed from a popular online resource into a successful brand generating $100,000 in revenue each month. Leafly had 2.6 million visitors in May, and is projected to earn $1 million in revenue per month within the next 12 months.

"The market is ready for a news source that elevates the conversation about cannabis," said Privateer Holdings CEO Brendan Kennedy. "Cannabis is mainstream, but most publications don't reflect that. It's time to give patients a news source that doesn't insult them by assuming cannabis is only consumed by 20-somethings with Cheech and Chong posters on the walls of their apartments."

Visit Leafly's News & Culture site at www.leafly.com/news.

Leafly is a leading online information and education resource for cannabis patients. Through Leafly, millions of visitors per month research strains of cannabis that will best meet their specific medical needs, access thousands of user-generated reviews of more than 500 cannabis strains and 3,300 dispensaries, and follow news and culture content intended for everyone from beginning patients to the sophisticated connoisseur. To learn more, visit www.leafly.com.

Privateer Holdings, Inc. is the cannabis industry's first private equity firm. Through strategic investments in the emerging legal cannabis industry, Privateer is building a portfolio of mainstream companies that elevate the conversation about cannabis. Privateer aims to change past perceptions of the marketplace by building brands set apart by their professionalism and operational excellence. For more information, visit www.privateerholdings.com.

SOURCE Leafly