In 2018, the legal marijuana industry grew to $10.4 billion dollars in the US. That’s pretty impressive considering brands and dispensaries are severely limited when it comes to advertising and marketing.
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Businesses aren’t able to advertise online, send direct mail, advertise on tv or radio, use signage that’s too big… the list goes on and on. And to complicate the issue further, as the industry continues to grow, both state and federal laws are constantly changing.
With all the restrictions on traditional marketing tactics, many businesses have turned to branded merchandise as a creative way to advertise. But even that widely accepted strategy has a few state-level regulations.
To put it simply, the struggle is real when it comes to promoting cannabis brands.
So to help you out, we’ve created a state-by-state list of regulations concerning cannabis merchandise. Take a read and make sure you’re in compliance before you order another round of branded buttons or t-shirts.
AlabamaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use SWAG RESTRICTIONS:
AlaskaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use
ArizonaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use ArkansasSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use CaliforniaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use
source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov ColoradoSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use • No marketing that appeals to anyone under the age of 21 ConnecticutSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use District of ColumbiaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use DelawareSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use FloridaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use GeorgiaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use HawaiiSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use IdahoSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal IllinoisSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use
IndianaSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal IowaSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal KansasSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal KentuckySTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal LouisianaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use MaineSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use MarylandSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use MassachusettsSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use MichiganSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use MinnesotaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use MississippiSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal MissouriSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use |
MontanaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use NebraskaSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal NevadaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use New HampshireSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use New JerseySTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use
New MexicoSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use (Recreational will be legalized starting 2022) New YorkSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use North CarolinaSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal North DakotaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use OhioSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use OklahomaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use OregonSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use PennsylvaniaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use Rhode IslandSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use South CarolinaSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal South DakotaSTATUS: Marijuana in process of becoming legalized for recreational use. SWAG RESTRICTIONS: TennesseeSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal TexasSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use UtahSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use
VermontSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use VirginiaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use SWAG RESTRICTIONS: WashingtonSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Recreational Use
West VirginiaSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use WisconsinSTATUS: Marijuana Legalized for Medicinal Use WyomingSTATUS: Marijuana Fully Illegal |
Most of the state level regulations simply prohibit marketing to teens and children. In that regard, the cannabis merch restrictions are very similar to those placed on alcohol and tobacco. Others get more specific and restrict the type of imagery that is allowed, essentially banning any merchandise related to stoner culture.
But for Washington and Massachusetts, two states that have legalized recreational use of marijuana, branded cannabis accessories are completely prohibited. These type of strict regulations make it very hard for brands to differentiate themselves from their competition. But as the industry grows and evolves, these regulations are likely to change. In the future, cannabis branding and merchandise might become as omnipresent as Starbucks and Nike.
Now that you know all the rules, it’s time to get your branded cannabis merchandise.
