Regulations on Cannabis Advertising by State [A – M]

U.S. cannabis advertising is changing all the time. Stay up to date and learn about current cannabis advertising laws by state here! Below are regulations for states A through M.

Alabama

• No advertising within 500 perimeter feet of a prohibited facility or any minor-oriented business or organization.
• No billboards, radio or television broadcasts, including broadcast, cable, on-demand, satellite, cinema, social media or other internet-based platforms.
• No portable signs.
• No advertising on any vehicles or public transit shelters or on or in a publicly owned or operated property.
• No designs, references to or images of people or characters appealing to youth.
• No apparel or other merchandise.
• No health claims, mention of edibles or beverages.
• No false or misleading statements, non-registered names, depiction of plants, slang terms, disparagement of a competitor’s products, obscene, indecent or profane statements or depictions.
• No external signage larger than sixteen inches in height by eighteen inches in width, or illuminated sign advertising a product or strain.
• No advertisement of brand names or graphics on the exterior of any building or vehicle.
• No indication of approval or endorsement by anyone associated with the State of Alabama.

Alaska

• No advertising within 1,000 perimeter feet of a substance abuse or treatment facility or any minor-oriented business or organization.
• No advertising on or in a publicly owned or operated property.
• No advertising or promotions on business cards or merchandise.
• Advertisements must include the business name and license number.
• No false or misleading statements or illustrations, no promotion of excessive consumption, no health claims or depiction of minor consumption.
• No designs, references to or images of people or characters appealing to youth.
• Specifically worded warnings must appear in an advertisement or on any product, with visual contrast for print advertisements and intelligible audio for audio advertisements.
• No advertising toward location-based devices, unless by app for adults only, with a permanent and easy opt-out feature.
• Event advertising is only allowed wherein the event’s participants and audience under age 21 is no more than 30%.
• No games or competitions related to consumption.
• No promotional materials or activities which appeal to children.

Arizona

PENDING: HB2451, which prohibits advertising to minors via designs, references to or images of people or characters appealing to youth. It also restricts advertising on public transportation, social media, and websites unless the majority of the audience is expected to be over 21.

• All advertising to contain a warning not to use if under 21 and to keep away from children.
• Billboards within 1,000 feet of childcare centers, schools and other specified areas are prohibited.
• Other billboard advertisements cannot show strain names, potency, THC levels or images of consumption.

Arkansas

• Cultivation facilities and processors shall not advertise publicly.
• Dispensary advertising cannot have misleading statements, appeal to minors via designs, references to or images of people or characters appealing to youth, encourage transportation across state lines or display consumption.
• No promotion of excessive or rapid use or use as an intoxicant.
• No advertisements within 1,000 feet of the perimeter of a public or private school or daycare center, on or in a public transit vehicle or public transit shelter or on or in a publicly owned or operated property.
• No television, radio, print media or internet ads permitted unless there is reliable evidence that the under-18 audience is no more than 30% of the total audience.
• No coupons, rebates or promotions.
• No more than three signs, which shall not exceed 36 square feet in length or width, visible to the general public from the public right-of-way.
• No content or symbols commonly associated with medicine or pharmacy, such as crosses of any color or a caduceus.

A lawsuit is currently pending which challenges Arkansas advertising restrictions.

California

• Ads, including radio and television, can only be run in places where the audience is over 21 years of age.
• Free contests and giveaways are not allowed.
• Billboards located within 15 miles of state borders cannot display cannabis ads.
• No use of the name of a California county unless 100% of the cannabis was grown there.
• No marketing cannabis goods as an alcoholic beverage.
• No ads or designs attractive to children.
• No health claims.
• No use of the words “organic” or “OCal” unless registered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture or California Department of Public Health.
• No pictures of edibles.

Colorado

In Colorado, new rules include the adoption of the same rules regulating the signage, marketing, and advertising of medical marijuana for retail marijuana. These include no internet ads unless there is reliable evidence that the under-18 audience is no more than 30% of the total audience. Additionally:

• No mass-market campaigns with a high likelihood of reaching minors under 18.
• No advertising which specifically targets those outside the state of Colorado.
• No misleading claims.
• No outdoor advertising, except any fixed sign located on the same zone lot as the business and that exists solely for the purpose of identifying the location.
• No ads or designs appealing to children.
• No advertising toward location-based devices, unless by app for adults only with a permanent and easy opt-out feature.
• No internet pop-ups.
• Event advertising is only allowed wherein people under age 18 make up no more than 30% of the event’s participants and audience.

Connecticut

• Advertisements must not appeal to minors.
• No representation of the plant.
• No health claims.
• No advertising on or in public or private vehicles or at bus stops, taxi stands, transportation waiting areas, train stations, airports or other similar transportation venues.
• No billboards within 1,500 feet of elementary or secondary school grounds, houses of worship, recreation centers or facilities, childcare centers, playgrounds, public parks or libraries, or on billboards between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.; by television, radio, internet, mobile applications, social media, other electronic communication, billboard or other outdoor signage, or print publication unless the establishment has reliable evidence at least 90% of the advertisement’s audience is reasonably expected to be age 21 or older; and through location-based devices, unless the marketing is an app whose owner, who is age 21 or older, installed it on the phone and includes a permanent and easy opt-out feature and warnings that use is restricted to those age 21 and older.
• No event sponsorship without reliable evidence not more than 10% of the audience is expected to be under age 21.
• No encouragement of transportation across state lines or other illegal activity.
• Various words are specifically prohibited, as well as the use of radios or loudspeakers in a vehicle or in or outside the facility.
• Specific warnings are required, and outdoor signs also must adhere to specific rules.

Delaware

PENDING advertising requirements can be read here.

District of Columbia

• No prices displayed in windows of a registered establishment, nor advertisements on the exterior of any window or on the exterior or interior of any door.
• No illuminated signs.

Florida

• No public advertising except an affixed sign at the location.
• Internet advertising is allowed if it is:
  • State Department-approved
  • Does not appeal to minors
  • Not an unsolicited pop-up
  • Has opt-in marketing with an easy and permanent opt-out feature.

Additionally, no products or messages which promote “recreational” use are allowed, although no guidelines for this have been provided.

Georgia

• No advertising to patients, caregivers or the public.

Hawaii

• No advertising in any media.
• No display or products in public view or windows.
• No use of the words “candy” and “candies” on advertising, product lists or product menus.

Illinois

• No misleading claims or promotion of overconsumption.
• Depiction of consumption and underaged consumption are not allowed.
• No health claims.
• No images of leaf or bud.
• No appealing to minors.
• No advertisements within 1,000 feet of the perimeter of school grounds, a playground, a recreation center or facility, a childcare center, a public park or public library or a game arcade to which admission is not restricted to persons 21 years of age or older.
• No ads on or in a public transit vehicle or public transit shelter; on or in publicly owned or publicly operated property.
• No promotions, games or competitions.

Indiana

Currently no cannabis advertising laws are in place.

Iowa

• No images of cannabis or paraphernalia.
• No colloquial references.
• No advertising strains or varieties.
• No unsubstantiated medical claims.
• No medical symbols or misleading statements.
• Displays, interior signs and other exhibits should be arranged to reasonably prevent public viewing from outside the facility.

Kentucky

PENDING advertising requirements can be read here.

Louisiana

• No advertising through public media.
• Two separate signs attached to a premises exterior identifying business or trade name are allowed, as long as they are under 1,600 square inches in size.

Maine

• No misleading claims or placement within 1,000 feet of the property line of a preexisting public or private school.
• No health claims or mass marketing.
• No opt-in marketing that does not permit an easy and permanent opt-out feature.
• No advertising on location-based devices, unless a mobile device application installed on the device by the owner of the device, who is 21 years of age or older and the app includes a permanent and easy opt-out feature.
• No appealing to minors.
• A sign on the licensed premises is allowed, as well as on the exterior of a motor vehicle.

Maryland

• No misleading claims.
• No targeting or appealing to minors.
• No depiction of use is allowed.
• No obscenity or encouragement of use as an intoxicant.
• No advertisements on publicly visible locations or in media unless at least 85% of the audience is reasonably expected to be at least 21 years old as determined by reliable and current audience composition data.

Massachusetts

• Logos containing medical symbols, images of cannabis, related paraphernalia and colloquial references are prohibited.
• Neon signage is banned at all times, and external signage shall not be illuminated except for a period of 30 minutes before sundown until closing and shall comply with local requirements regarding signage.
• No exterior ads or any specific brand names.
• Prices may not be advertised except as a catalog or printed list along with available strains.
• Promotional items for gift or sale are not allowed if bearing cannabis symbols or references.
• Advertising must not appeal to minors.
• Two specific disclaimers are required.
• Geo-fencing mobile targeting is now allowed, as well as branded sponsorships at certain events, with continued prohibitions on activities that target underage participants or entrants. At least 85% of the target audience on ads must be aimed at 21 years old or older.

Michigan

• No misleading or health claims.
• No advertising in media unless no more than 30% of the audience is reasonably expected to be at least 21 years old.
• Specific warnings are required.
• No appealing to minors.
• Must be advertised as “marihuana” for use only by individuals 21 years of age or older.

Minnesota

• No misleading or health claims. No promotion of overconsumption, depiction of minor consumption or appealing to minors.
• Must contain a specific warning.
• Outdoor advertisements are banned except for two fixed outdoor signs on the exterior of the business building or property.
• No advertising in any medium if 30% or more of the audience medium is reasonably expected to be individuals who are under 21 years of age, as determined by reliable, current audience composition data.
• No unsolicited pop-up advertisements on the internet.
• No advertising using location-based devices unless the owner of the device is 21 years of age or older.
• No colloquial terms, implication of state endorsement, images of cannabis or paraphernalia or medical symbols.

Mississippi

• No advertising in any media.
• No product display in windows or public view.
• No depiction of consumption or promotion of overconsumption.
• No health or safety claims.
• No appealing to minors.
• No imagery of leaf or bud.
• Sponsorships of health or not-for-profit charity or advocacy events are allowed.
• Branding must not target minors, pregnant women, breastfeeding women or promote non-medical use.
• No promotions or sales are allowed.
• Educational materials are permissible.

Missouri

• No health or misleading claims.
• Not appealing to minors.

Montana

• Only electronic advertising is allowed.
• No colloquial terms or images of products, paraphernalia or indication of product presence, such as smoke.
• No advertising via location-based devices unless users affirmatively opt into receiving push notifications related to marijuana or marijuana-related products.
• No internet unsolicited pop-up or push-to advertising.
• No safety claims.
• No appealing to minors and no mascots.
• No health or misleading claims.
• No promotion of overconsumption.
• No depiction of consumption or underage consumption.

Stay on Top of Cannabis Advertising Laws

Looking for more info on current cannabis advertising laws? Read all about them here. Stay tuned for state laws on cannabis advertising N-Z!

This article was originally published on Nov. 9, 2021, and was updated on May 20, 2024.