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Netflix promos new series Disjointed with branded pot to get binge watchers baked

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

August 29, 2017 | 4 min read

Video streaming company Netflix is always plotting how to get its subscribers watching more TV, and now, it may have uncovered the answer - Netflix-branded marijuana.

Weed Netflix

Just some of the strains that were on offer from Netflix

The company wants to solidify its subscription as a vital monthly purchase, and as such worked with ad agency Carrot and Alternative Health Herbal Services in West Hollywood throughout the weekend in a joint effort to promote upcoming show Disjointed.

Thematically the pop-up shop, which ran Friday to Monday, ties in with Disjointed’s premise. The show is centered around a woman’s trials and tribulations in opening a marijuana dispensary, seemingly inspired by Jenji Kohan’s Weeds which tackled the trade from 2005 back when it was much more difficult to legally acquire in the US.

Netflix told Variety: “Each strain was cultivated with the specific shows in mind, designed to complement each title based on their tone. For example, sillier shows may be more indica dominant, while dramedies will be more sativa dominant to help the more powerful scenes resonate.”

While the pot products were sold solely for promotional purposes to those with legible medical documentation, in line with the state’s laws, the marketing drive has gained substantial coverage and also helped distance Netflix from the saccharine promotional efforts of broadcast rivals.

In short, the brief and localised marketing stunt helps up Netflix's millennial credentials and street cred.

There are strains for many of Netflix's original shows, check them out below on the Disjointed Instagram account.

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