PLUGPLAY: Premium Pod-Based Cannabis Vape Brand from Los Angeles

Plug Play

Industry	Cannabis
Found	2017, California
Products	Vapor Pens, Pre-Rolls, and Concentrates
Areas served	New York, Colorado, Washington, and California
Website	plugplay.com

PLUGPLAY (also written PLUGPLAY™) is a Los Angeles-based high-end cannabis brand that was started in 2017, focusing on innovative vaporizer technology and cannabis oil. The brand is known to have a proprietary 500mAh battery system providing more than 350 puffs per charge, giving consumers an easy and silent experience of cannabis intake using its proprietary pod-based vaping system.

Overview

PLUGPLAY was established in 2017 by three lifelong friends who shared a vision to create unique cannabis products that would benefit the community. The founders of the company had more than 10 years of experience in the cannabis industry, and had worked in areas like cultivating, managing dispensaries, and extracting cannabis by use of methods such as butane hash oil, live resin, and rosin concentrates. The mission of the brand is focused on inclusivity, and the motto is Love for all. No hatred, in their effort to make cannabis available to everyone, without the need to compromise on quality.

PLUGPLAY is a blend of cutting-edge technology and quality assurance that provides newcomers and experienced cannabis users with a quality and unproblematic vaping experience that its proprietary pods offer. The brand has already become one of the leading competitors in the vapor pen market in California, has consistently ranked well between May and August 2025, and faces industry giants while expanding its reach in various states such as Colorado and New York.

PLUGPLAY is a blend of cutting-edge technology and quality assurance that provides newcomers and experienced cannabis users with a quality and unproblematic vaping experience that its proprietary pods offer. The brand has already become one of the leading competitors in the vapor pen market in California, has consistently ranked well between May and August 2025, and faces industry giants while expanding its reach in various states such as Colorado and New York. As the broader hardware market evolves, many oil brands also look to advanced solutions like CILICON’s empty disposable vape platforms to support diverse oil viscosities and reliable performance.

History

PLUGPLAY was initially launched under the name “PLUG & PLAY” in 2017, based on the technology of an auxiliary cord, where the user just has to plug in, and the system would start. About a year later, the name of the company was changed due to trademark reasons, although the initial idea of PLUG & PLAY was at the center of the company. The product is available in the signature aqua blue colorway, symbolizing the combination of technology (blue) and cannabis plants (green), which represents the idea of the company to combine technological innovation with high-quality cannabis-based products.

In September 2019, having developed sufficient market presence, PLUGPLAY entered into a licensing deal with big cannabis players, including a deal with 1933 Industries Inc. to manufacture and distribute in Nevada. This growth was an indication of the rising status of the brand as a producer of personally made hardware and high-quality distillate concentrates.

The brand began to grow fast in the early 2020s to adjust to the challenges facing the industry, such as the 2019 vaping crisis, by focusing on transparency and quality. Three years post-launch, PlugPlay was delivering to 150 California dispensaries alone, by cutting its identity with a sleek, modern look, which broke with the typical cannabis aesthetic. Social media was of critical importance, and daring content, being authentic, and responding quickly to a situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increased visibility. In March 2020, it was ranked number one on the Pioneer Index with this strategy.

As of 2024, PlugPlay had grown to more than 650 retail locations in four states of the U.S., including California, Colorado, and New York. This was characterized by product diversification as vapes were replaced with joints and infused pre-rolls to resolve the problem of plastic waste in the environment. The major partnerships were with Carrots by Anwar Carrots, Desto Dubb on the That’s A Awful Lot Of PlugPlays line, These Foos on the Foolto collection, and Insomniac on the RNBW collection in association with festivals such as EDM. Its celebrity endorsement and especially that of Tish Cyrus-Purcell took it to the next level among musicians, athletes, and influencers.

In the year 2025, HeadSet indicated sustained performance whereby PlugPlay was number three in the vapor pens category in California during the months of May to August, which has remained stable despite market fluctuations. The brand has built positive ties with the community through its inclusive culture, which includes Asians (who form a minority in the industry). PlugPlay is not stopping at all, and today it is one of the companies that focuses on technology and responsible consumption.

Products and Services

PlugPlay has a wide array of cannabis products based on its own proprietary platform of plug and play, ensuring a hassle-free experience by making compatible pods and batteries. The product line of the brand consists of vaporizers, extracts, pre-rolls, and accessories that are designed in terms of quality, potency, and flavor preservation. Vapes are divided into DNA, Exotics, and Livest line, and joints and hemp selections are offered to meet different interests and different occasions.

PLAY™ Battery System

The foundation of the product ecosystem of PLUGPLAY is its own battery system called PLAY™. The 500mAh rechargeable battery has a capacity of more than 350 puffs per charge, and therefore it has less charging down time unlike other competitive products. The battery has a smooth magnetized connection system, so as to be more appealing aesthetically and conveniently as well. The flat design makes it impossible to roll and easily packs in bags or pockets, which makes it convenient to use discreetly.

PLUGPLAY batteries come in a variety of color choices, such as Black, Blue Steel, Green Steel, Orange Steel, and Pink Steel, which gives people an opportunity to customize their vaping experience. The magnetic connection system is also used to guarantee the secure fixing of the pod cartridges without compromising on the minimalist design of the device. The battery can be charged with the help of the standard micro-USB connection, and replacement cords are easily available. This charging standard was changed to the original proprietary magnetic charging system due to the feedback of the consumers, which shows that the company is responsive to the needs of the users.

The technology of the ceramic heating element makes PLUGPLAY stand out among its competitors with the traditional coil heating technology. This ceramic heating offers a purer, stronger hit with every vape, thus making it more of a dab rig experience than a standard vape cartridge. The thermal regulation and uniform heat distribution result in the best vaporization of cannabinoids and terpenes without burning flavors and avoiding harsh throats.

DNA™ Product Line

DNA™ (Daytime, Nighttime, and Anytime) pods are attentively developed using original strain terpenes to deliver the authentic flavor and effects. The product line is aimed at maintaining the natural properties of strains of cannabis by means of attentive extraction and reintroduction of terpenes. All day-time pods are strains with a heavy sativa, nighttime pods are strains with a heavy indica, and Anytime pods are a combination of the two strains, which gives consumers a predictability of the effect they want to experience.

Well-known DNA strains are Blue Dream, Super Lemon Haze, Pineapple Express, Northern Lights, King Louie, and Island Sweet skull. The DNA pod is filled with high-quality distillate oil with a concentration of THC that is usually between 81% and 87%, to provide effective and consistent results. The DNA line incorporates terpenes present in cannabis back into the distillate, and this way, users can get robust flavor profiles that seem true to the way traditional cannabis is used.

EXOTICS™ Product Line

The EXOTICS™ brand has the pods with natural tastes deliciously added to them to offer fun and fresh tastes. This line of products targets consumers who want to develop adventurous taste and, at the same time, enjoy high potency levels that PLUGPLAY has been recognized for providing. The best-selling Exotics flavors are Watermelon Sorbet, Melon Dew, and Berry Gang, and the brand Watermelon Sorbet will continue to sell well in 2025 as the best seller of all products in the brand.

Other Exotics flavors are Strawberry Champagne, Paradise Punch, Kiwi Burst, and Durban Delight, which provide a wide range of tastes, from fruity to tropical. The Exotics brand has the same quality as DNA products, but the same concentration of THC, as well as compatibility with the same proprietary pod system.

Pre-Rolled Joints

PLUGPLAY has gone beyond a vaporizer and commenced selling high-quality flower that is expertly rolled in to be used as joints. These pre-rolls are packed with no shake or trim and contain only full-spectrum flower with strong aromas and profound impact. The joints signify the brand’s promise of quality through various forms of consumption, allowing the consumers who like the synergy of smoking the convenience of the pre-rolled products.

At the onset of the company’s development, it entered the flower products market, and the cultivation lane proved to be a challenge to them in the context of their focus on extraction and vaporizer technology. The re-entry into flower products in the form of pre-rolled joints shows how the brand has changed and adapted to consumer needs to have a variety of product offerings.

Safety and Quality Control

All PLUGPLAY cartridges are strictly tested in third-party laboratories to guarantee potency, purity, and safety. The products are prepared using pure cannabis oil extracts and contain no additives or fillers, which will help to resolve the health concerns that US consumers have regarding vaping products. PLUGPLAY collaborates only with farms that are of high standards in the state in terms of cultivating cannabis; they only process the buds that are produced in pesticide-free environments.

Market Metrics and Headset Data Analysis

According to Headset.io, by 2025, Plug Play had annual sales of its products in calendar year 2025 in the different states of the USA of approximately $56.0 million, with a good market share of all cannabis commodities sold, especially in the Vapor Pens category, which ranked #3 in California with sales of $54.0 million.

Top 5 SKUs by sales:

FAQs

Can I purchase PlugPlay products online? 

No, cannabis cartridges cannot be shipped due to regulations; batteries and merchandise are available online, with cartridges at local dispensaries via the store locator. 

How many puffs are in a PlugPlay pod? 

A full 1g pod offers approximately 350 puffs, varying by draw length. 

What advice is there for new users? 

Start with small hits from Exotics pods, holding 1-2 seconds and waiting 5-10 minutes for effects. 

How should PlugPlay products be stored? 

Keep in a cool, dry place below 70°F, away from sunlight or heat. 

How long does it take to charge a PlugPlay battery? 

Typically, 1-2 hours for a full charge, depending on the model.