Tag: Advertising

10/21/21--Attorney General William Tong believes the billboards advertising cannabis dispensaries violate Connecticut’s cannabis law that took effect July 1, 2021. Tong’s office has been in discussions with the billboard companies, and now he’s reaching out directly to the cannabis retailers. On Tuesday, he mailed letters to seven dispensaries in Massachusetts asking them to remove their billboard ads. Read 

9/9/21--Montana regulators loosened the proposed rules for medical cannabis advertising after operators expressed concerns at public hearings about the initial draft regulations. The rules apply only to MMJ businesses, and state regulators still are drafting rules for Montana’s recreational marijuana market, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2022. Read

8/31/21--Jaime Suarez and Albert Moufarrij, , who both worked client side with tobacco company Philip Morris International, announced the launch of MACH9, which specializes in helping brands meet regulatory requirements while engaging with audiences online in a socially responsible way. Read

7/6/21--Cannabis advertising remains a battle against constantly shifting state and local laws with blanket bans on TV, radio and most forms of social media advertising in place. As more states continue to legalize recreational cannabis, advertisers will have to deal with three sets of regulations – those at the federal, state and local levels. According to an op-ed by Jeff Ragovin, chief commercial officer at Fyllo, California’s recent ban on billboard advertising highlighted what is already known: Programmatic digital advertising is future of cannabis marketing. Read

6/25/21--Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) reports the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released the latest edition of the annual World Drug Report, which highlighted the fact that while use of marijuana among young people has increased to levels not seen since the early nineties, the perception of harm from use among the same demographic is at a historic low. The report also called for a global ban on marijuana advertising and the implementation of a cap on THC potency in marijuana products where the marijuana industry has expanded. Read

6/28/21--A coalition of state broadcaster associations seeking to cash in on TV and radio ads for marijuana products hired a team of lobbyists with ties to senior lawmakers to secure congressional approval to air spots for pot. The coalition hired bipartisan boutique lobbying firm Klein/Johnson Group to work with policymakers on its behalf, according to lobbying registration filed with Congress. Read

4/27/21--According to research by the lobby group Reset Australia, Facebook is allowing businesses to advertise to children as young as 13 who express an interest in smoking, extreme weight loss and gambling for as little as $3. While Facebook will not allow the advertising of alcohol and other age-inappropriate content to people under 18, it does not prevent advertisers from targeting children determined by Facebook’s profile to have an interest in alcohol, for advertising that might not appear explicitly to be about those topics. Read

4/18/21--Analysts say one reason the sunny projections for legal marijuana in Canada have failed to materialize is the tightly regulated distribution system introduced by Canada, which largely bans advertising and marketing. The halting roll out of stores in some provinces — particularly Ontario — is also a factor. Plus, surveys have suggested that many Canadians are simply not interested in adopting a new vice. Read

4/15/21--In a first for Colorado — and quite possibly the nation — Livwell Enlightened Health will be advertising its brand on Denver NBC affiliate KUSA, and the company says it's a big step forward for normalizing the multibillion-dollar Colorado industry. Read    

4/9/21--To secure the tobacco industry’s medium to long-term future, in light of growing tobacco regulations and a rapidly shrinking cigarette market, transnational tobacco companies (TTC) have been diversifying into alternative tobacco and nicotine products.12 They are also increasingly marketing these products in low and middle income countries. Three of the ‘big four’ TTCs have invested in Swedish-style snus and leaf-free variants called nicotine pouches, which they have promoted as part of their harm reduction or ‘reduced risk’ strategies. Read

4/8/21--According to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, adolescents who frequently see billboard or storefront advertisements for recreational cannabis are more likely to use the drug weekly and to have symptoms of a cannabis use disorder. Read

3/22/21--A bill on marijuana advertising has passed the House and is now in Senate committee hearings. If it becomes law, cannabis companies could advertise their products on websites and apps. Supporters argue the bill will help legal companies compete against the black market. But opponents say there are loop holes and more language is needed in the bill. Read

3/31/21--An increasing debate is occurring in the California Legislature over cannabis-related billboards that have sprung up around the state, advertising tools the industry says are necessary to support the struggling legal market, but that opponents argue expose children to a potentially harmful substance. This debate could have a major impact on California's legal cannabis market, because the industry relies on outdoor advertising since major tech companies like Google, YouTube, and Facebook largely bar them from marketing to consumers online. Read

2/6/21--Rep. Colleen Madigan, D-Waterville, is proposing changes to the state’s marijuana advertising rules following complaints that the current system is too restrictive and subjective., “An Act To Amend the Law Regarding the Advertising and Marketing of Adult Use Marijuana” would strengthen the appeal process for businesses found in violation of the state’s marijuana advertising rules. Despite the title, Madigan said the bill, which is still in draft form, would apply to both medical and recreational businesses. Read

1/22/21--Section 5040(b)(3), which only prohibited billboard advertising within a 15-mile radius of the California border on an interstate or state highway that crosses the California border, is no longer in effect. To comply with the law and regulations, licensees may not place new advertising or marketing on any interstate highway or state highway that crosses the California border. Read

1/12/21--The California Bureau of Cannabis Control has 30 days to inform all cannabis business owners that they can no longer advertise on highways that cross state lines, according to a judgement San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Ginger Garrett issued Monday. The judgment has state-wide effect. Read

10/28/20--Teen-age boys exposed to pro-cannabis advertising and social media posts are more likely than female peers to associate marijuana use with improving sexual activity, new research from Washington State University suggests. Read

10/8/20--Advertising and location of cannabis retailers influence adolescents’ intentions to use marijuana, according to a new study in the Journal of Health Communication by Washington State University researchers. The research shows regular exposure to marijuana advertising on storefronts, billboards, retailer websites and other locations increased the likelihood of adolescents using marijuana. Read

10/8/20--The current study explored the influences of advertising exposure, numbers of marijuana retailers, distance to retailers, and constructs from the integrative model of behavioral prediction, including outcome beliefs, perceived norms, and efficacy, on youth’s intentions to use marijuana in a state in which the use of recreational marijuana is legal. Read

11/1/19--According to a study published in Science Direct, youth who engage with cannabis promotions and brands had higher odds of past-year cannabis use. After adjusting for several possible confounders, youth who liked or followed a cannabis business on at least one social media platform had 5 times higher odds of past-year cannabis use. Read

8/9/19--A new PSA campaign out of Ontario wants to remind marijuana users that any level of buzz is enough to make you an unsafe driver. Read

8/2/19--As states legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, some states require pre-approval by government of pot advertising. Billboard operators say prior approval has not caused problems; some managers appreciate the government sign-off. Read

6/28/19--Facing restrictions from major ad players such as Google and Facebook Inc., companies selling products containing cannabidiol, or CBD, are looking for other avenues in which to market their goods — by amping up their search engine optimization, turning to third-party services, and leaning on social media influencers for promotional purposes. Read

6/14/19--Controversy erupted over Integrity Car Care in Tumwater this week. High above the car repair shop stands a billboard for a marijuana business stating “Get Weed.” This prompted the local community to start a boycott. However, the shop doesn’t own, nor does it have anything to do with the billboard. Read

4/22/19--An increasing number of jurisdictions are legalizing recreational marijuana, including Canada. One of the primary goals under the Cannabis Act is to adequately inform Canadians about recreational marijuana and risks related to its use. According to the findings of a recent study, brand imagery on cannabis packaging can promote lifestyle associations and influence the appeal of cannabis products among young people. Read

4/12/19--One of Hollywood’s go-to cannabis brands Dosist opened its first-ever store Wednesday in Venice. But they're not the only ones going brick-and-mortar with weed; Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus recently began offering CBD assortments. Other up-and-coming  Los Angeles-based cannabis brands include DedCool Cannabis Chazsticks, a new line of vapes called Nuvata, and the Harry Styles-loved brand Higgs. Read

1/16/19--Canna Consumer Goods, Inc. / DBA Canna Broadcast Media has successfully placed ads for Baristas EnrichaRoast CBD Coffee at Super Bowl LIII. This is the first time any Marijuana related product will be seen at a Super Bowl, making this a ground-breaking moment. Read

12/6/18--The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission voted unanimously Thursday to ban billboard, radio, TV, and most online advertising by marijuana companies — a move that representatives for the firms said they would fight in the General Assembly when it convenes next month. The new rules also prohibit advertising in print publications such as newspapers and magazines that cannot prove that 85 percent of their audience is over 18 years old, and bans the use of leaflets or flyers in most public and private places. Read

10/1/18--The National Association of Cannabis Businesses (NACB) is the first and only self-regulatory organization in U.S. cannabis. The organization's Standards Governance Board and Members voted to adopt the Advertising Standard in October 2018. Read

7/9/18--Product packaging is increasingly becoming a storytelling medium, especially in a nascent industry like recreational cannabis. It is more sophisticated than ever before, and brands that do it right are creating marketing history while simultaneously changing public opinion with their perfectly packaged creations. Developing cannabis manufacturers are raising the bar at the intersection of wellness, compliance, and luxury branding. Read

7/5/18--Undeterred by a ban on edibles in Canada's initial rollout of legal recreational marijuana, food companies have found a way to cash in on the buzz by catering to post-consumption cravings with marijuana-free munchies. Cannabis-free products are not subject to the strict marketing rules governing the marijuana industry, which is essentially banned from advertising in Canada, with some exceptions. Sensing the dawn of huge marketing opportunity without the complications that come with strict licensing of marijuana itself, other companies are also jumping on board the munchie wagon. Read

11/22/17--San Francisco’s public transit board has voted to ban marijuana advertising on its buses, trains and shelters, reversing its current policy. Mayor Ed Lee was among those urging a ban on weed advertising, saying such a rule would limit children’s exposure to products meant for adults. Read

11/10/17--Herbal Risings, the Valley's first school focusing on all things marijuana, was started by Chad Olshavsky in 2014 as a way to prepare individuals who want to work in the industry. "We understand what they are looking for in an employee, so we put all that together in a one-day class," Olshavsky explained. The class is six hours long and features guest speakers. Students are handed a certificate once completed. Read

11/4/17--Ads promoting Weedmaps, a California-based website and mobile application, have sprung up in cities across Canada in recent months. The platform lists nearby medical marijuana dispensaries, delivery services as well and resources about cannabis. Anti-marijuana activists have been taking aim at the marijuana advertising that has cropped up in several cities, including on door hangers in Toronto. Read

11/2/17--The group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is claiming victory in its battle to squelch what it says are illegal pot ads on prominent billboards. SAM co-director Pamela McColl wants cities across Canada to remove billboards promoting Weedmaps, a website that advertises the locations of marijuana dispensaries. Read

10/19/17--The husband and wife team of Mike Babins and Maria Petrucci, who own the Vancouver-based dispensary Evergreen Cannabis Society, make their two-year-old compassion club as welcoming as possible, and they are proud of the personal touch offered at Evergreen. The couple focuses on creating an environment that's comfortable, cozy, and professional, while also offering informative lectures on cannabis, cannabinoids, nutrition, and health. To provide more holistic treatment options, they work with naturopathic doctors, an herbalist, and a massage studio. Read

10/23/17--A Clear Channel approved billboard promoting medical marijuana is a first for the outdoor advertising industry in New Mexico. The medical marijuana company Pur-Life features its campaign slogan “This is medicine.” Pur-Life says they hope the ads will remove the stigma behind marijuana and bring awareness to how it can help people suffering from debilitating conditions. Read

10/6/17--New England Treatment Access, NETA, which operates medical marijuana dispensaries in Brookline and Northampton, has purchased space on four billboards: two on the Massachusetts Turnpike near Exit 5 in Chicopee, one on Route 28 in Somerville, and another near the Mass. Ave. exit off Interstate 93 in Boston. The ads are simply set against a bright green background, they read, “Why wait for better health?” with NETA’s web address included. Read

8/30/17--One of several measures moving through the California legislature would impose restrictions on the marketing, labeling, and even the shape of pot products, in hopes of reducing its allure for those under 21. If approved, sources within the cannabis industry say it is likely to face a legal challenge as a measure that's both overbroad and places an unfair restriction of free speech rights. Companies say promotional items are being used to do more than just boost marijuana sales. They strive to also change the industry's outdated image and public perception. Read

9/1/17--Las Vegas recreational marijuana retailer Acres Cannabis completed a deal to advertise in Allegiant Air’s in-flight magazine, another sign of a growing movement by cannabis companies to expand their advertising reach through transportation outlets. Acres said it will begin running a full-page ad in Allegiant’s Sunseeker magazine on Sept. 1, the Las Vegas Sun reported, and the campaign will run through October. This appears to be the first time a cannabis company has run an ad in an in-flight magazine. Read

8/25/17--State legislators in California have taken another step toward banning legally licensed marijuana growers, producers, and dispensaries from using promotional products to advertise their businesses. Senate Bill 162, authored by state Sen. Ben Allen, would prevent cannabis businesses from advertising “through the use of branded merchandise, including, but not limited to, clothing, hats, or other merchandise with the name or logo of the product.” Read

8/17/17--Weedmaps, a marijuana-related firm, is bringing its own “weedfacts” to Michigan during an ongoing petition drive seeking to put a marijuana legalization question on the 2018 statewide ballot. The California-based company is paying for 22 pro-pot billboards in the Lansing region, 12 around Ann Arbor, and six in Metro Detroit as part of an international campaign also targeting six other states and Canada. The billboards feature selective statistics showing unchanged youth use, increased tax revenue, theft reductions and other developments in states that have already legalized weed. Read

8/12/17--Weedmaps, a mapping and technology service for dispensaries and other marijuana services nationwide, has invested in digital and physical advertising in three Michigan cities to tout the benefits of legalized marijuana. The Californina-based company recently started a public education campaign called WEEDFACTS to "provide communities with credible, verifiable facts about the benefits of legal marijuana" and start discussion around the issue, a company spokesperson said. Read

7/12/17--A marijuana billboard owned by Clear Channel featuring an advertisement placed by Weedmaps, an online marijuana dispensary rating service that also sells inventory software to pot shops, has been deemed insensitive as a result of being placed in a neighborhood hard hit by opioid abuse. Furthermore, the message violates Clear Channel's own policy regarding “exclusionary zones.’’ Read

6/12/17--Driven by concerns over marijuana marketing to teens, state lawmakers are weighing strict rules for recreational pot advertising. Coupons, free samples, prizes, discounts, or other promotional activities — including distribution of branded pot merchandise — would be prohibited. Advertising such as signs outside a marijuana retail outlet as well as direct marketing to customers through email, texts, or other forms of communication would be allowed. Read

6/9/17--Fig Earth Supply, a Mount Washington nursery, is offering its first-ever classes in “Cannabis Cultivation for the Home Grower.” The two-part evening classes taking place June 13 and 14 are focused on the casual grower and limited to 15 students. Based on the response, they’re already planning a second set of classes for June 27 and 28. Read

5/23/17--There’s a lot of confusion around what exactly some of the marijuana business regulations mean in Alaska, leading to missteps and accidental violations. Under the standing regulations, retail marijuana stores can’t “sell, give, distribute or offer to sell, give, distribute, or deliver marijuana or marijuana products” over the internet or as a marketing promotion, among other restrictions. The marketing promotions are tightly controlled, and have a number gray areas. Read

5/23/17--Vireo Health of New York, one of the state’s five licensed MMJ companies, on Monday launched a large-scale medical cannabis advertising campaign in the New York City subway system that targets nearly 100 stations with posters touting MMJ. If the campaign encounters no pushback, it would be a notable marketing breakthrough for both Vireo and the state’s MMJ industry, which has struggled for multiple reasons, including tight advertising restrictions. Read

4/21/17--Washington state lawmakers are looking to crack down on roadside marijuana billboards that feature cannabis plants, cuddly animals, or other images they fear could attract children to the drug. The Legislature passed a wide-ranging set of tweaks to the state’s marijuana laws, including new rules for what can and can’t appear on pot billboards. The measure, Senate Bill 5131, awaits a signature from Gov. Jay Inslee. Read

3/28/17--In a new study, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report that more than half of young pot users they surveyed have seen marijuana ads — either online or in more traditional forms of advertising such as billboards and print media. Although the survey group only included people who said they used pot and was not a nationally representative sample, the study’s first author, Melissa J. Krauss, called it alarming that so many people had seen ads for pot, even in places where such ads are supposed to be prohibited. Read

3/1/17--Despite shifting public opinion and the legalization of recreational marijuana in eight states, most social media sites, online ad networks, broadcasters, and print publications enforce partial or outright bans on pot content. While advertisers do not want to risk being punished for promoting a contraband product due to the fact that marijuana remains illegal under federal law, some argue the inability to advertise to a wider audience is holding back efforts to “professionalize” marijuana’s image and costing the industry millions of dollars in lost opportunity. Read

2/5/17--Marijuana shops are starting to get a makeover. Cannabis entrepreneurs, borrowing from successful retailers such as Apple and Whole Foods, are opening dispensaries with natural light, spacious displays, and open-floor plans. With weed now legal for recreational use in eight states, such amenities could attract new customers who are less familiar with cannabis, and may be put off by the industry’s generally dingy shopping experience. Read

1/26/17--In a classic consumer-marketing move, a new breed of ganjapreneurs are using a new marijuana marketing strategy. They’re  replacing stoner slang with supermarket-friendly names that purport to help customers live better. In essence, these marketers want to transform the image of marijuana so that it competes with scores of products already in liquor stores, markets, and pharmacies. Read

12/29/16--Rap star Snoop Dogg is visiting Level Up, a medical marijuana dispensary located in Scottsdale. Snoop is visiting the area as part of his "Puff Puff Pass" tour. Read

12/22/16--State lawmakers are considering legislation – Assembly Bill 64 – that would amend California’s recently passed Proposition 64 recreational marijuana initiative by imposing stricter rules for marijuana advertising. The new legislation would extend the ban to prohibit marijuana advertising along any stretch of interstate or state highway in California. Read

11/21/16--States that passed marijuana measures earlier this month eventually could generate more in annual retail MJ sales than the entire U.S. cannabis industry is expected to this year. The current recreational cannabis market will bring in an estimated $1.4-$1.7 billion dollars in retail sales by the end of 2016, and the addition of four new adult-use states will expand the size of this market by another $5.9 billion-$6.7 billion annually three to five years after rec shops open in each market. Read

10/13/16--Strain names range from whimsical to seriously profound. Some of the most famous strains got their names from the history of their evolution. Some are derived from the intent of their breeders. Others are the products of urban mythology. This article dives into the names of 10 of the most well-known strains. Read

10/10/16--The marijuana industry has been in a perpetual struggle to shake the “stoner” stereotype, and the businesses that comprise the industry are leading the charge against it. An analysis of 3, 318 state-licensed cannabis companies in the Marijuana Business License Directory shows that wellness-oriented words such as “organic” or “herbal” appear far more frequently in business names than slang terms such as “ganja,” “420” and “pot.” Read

10/3/16--Campaigns to legalize recreational marijuana use in Massachusetts and Maine launched their first television ads on Monday, hoping to boost public awareness and support ahead of November votes on the issue. The ads began just over a month before Election Day, when voters in five U.S. states will determine whether to legalize the recreational use of the drug. Read

9/25/16--The Canna Community Connection hosted an event for veterans and other members of the community to learn more about medical marijuana. Medical marijuana businesses were invited onsite to educate the public about the medical marijuana business in Reno, current medical marijuana regulations and the upcoming recreational marijuana bill on the ballot in November. Read