Is Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Getting into the Marijuana Business? Recent Trademark Applications for IT'S 4:20 SOMEWHERE and CORAL REEFER Say Maybe

It's 5:00 somewhere? Not anymore. 4:20 is the new 5:00, at least according to recent trademark applications filed by the entity operating the Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurants and resorts.

On May 3rd, Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC, founded by Jimmy Buffett, filed twelve federal trademark applications with the USPTO covering what appears to be a variety of marijuana-focused goods and services. The applications are for two phrases - IT'S 4:20 SOMEWHERE and CORAL REEFER. Margaritaville Enterprises filed each phrase in six different classes of goods and services each, rather than listing the six classes in a single application (hence the twelve applications). Applicants often do this to prevent an issue in one class from holding up all the other classes (which is what would happen if all the classes were listed in a single application).

The goods and services covered by the IT'S 4:20 SOMEWHERE and CORAL REEFER applications are, for the most part, the same and include:

• Smoking lounge services (Class 41);
• Herbal tinctures for medical purposes; medicated oils; medicated oral sprays; medicated creams and lotions (Class 5);
• Electronic cigarettes; cigarettes; cigars; tobacco; herbs for smoking; cigarette holders; cigarette lighters, and several related goods (Class 34 - IT'S 4:20 SOMEWHERE only);
• Electronic vaporizer pen for medical purposes sold empty (Class 10);
• Providing an online directory featuring information on physicians and health care providers (Class 35);
• Providing a website featuring health information in the field of medical marijuana and cannabis; Providing a website featuring information concerning cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Class 44);
• Bandanas; Belts; Dresses; Footwear, and several other clothing items (Class 25 - CORAL REEFER only)

Margaritaville Enterprises filed each application on an intent-to-use basis, suggesting it is not currently using these phrases as trademarks for the listed goods/services but has a bona fide intention to do so in the near future. TMEP 806.01(b); 15 USC 1051(b). Before these applications can mature into registrations, the phrases must actually be used as trademarks for the listed goods/services and sufficient evidence of that use must be submitted to the USPTO. TMEP 902.

Notice that Margaritaville Enterprises did not list "marijuana" as one of the goods in its applications. That is because the sale of marijuana is illegal at the federal level. The USPTO will refuse to register any trademark for the sale of marijuana because that sale violates federal law, and a trademark must be in lawful use in commerce for the USPTO to register it. I blogged about this issue before here.

So is Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville moving into the marijuana business? Will you be able to get marijuana as easy as margaritas at the Margaritaville restaurants and resorts in the near future? You be the judge (and pay attention to these applications to find out).

According to my quick search, Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC owns 432 active trademark applications or registrations with the USPTO, including several registrations for MARGARITAVILLE, like this one from 1995.