Advertising Los Angeles Marijuana Business

There is no question marijuana, including medical marijuana and marijuana for recreational use is big business in the greater Los Angeles area.  Like any business, advertising is often needed to bring in new patients or customers, but many are concerned about where and how marijuana businesses choose to advertise.

According to a recent news article from the Los Angeles Times, this massive growth in the legalized marijuana industry has led to equally massive ad campaigns some of which feature full-sized billboards being placed around our area.  One of the major concerns is that legalized marijuana will lead to an increase in illegal marijuana use among minors, especially in the case of teenagers. 

While data in other markets where marijuana has been legal for quite some time shows these fears are largely exaggerated, and mainly the product of those who are, and always will be, against the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, there is no question we all want to curb any real problem of teens illegally obtaining marijuana for recreational use. This had led to the enactment of a new ordinance in the City of Los Angeles is designed to reduce the exposure of minors to these ads for marijuana industry products and services.

Specifically, the new ordinance, effective July 2018, will prohibit the placement of any billboard advertising marijuana and marijuana-related services withing 700 feet of many places where it is likely children will be present. These restrictions include the following:

• Schools
• Parks (Public)
• Playgrounds
• Libraries
• Daycare Facilities
• Youth Activity Centers

These prohibitions seem reasonable on their face, but they may face challenges as to their constitutionality as similar advertising restrictions in other industries have amounted to a ban on all advertising in large segments of urban areas creating an unbalanced result.  It is hard to imagine many places in the City of Los Angeles that are not within two football fields’ distance of any one of these restricted areas.

This is only one example of a law affecting what people can do with respect to the operation of their legal marijuana businesses. The law in this area is constantly changing (some would say evolving), and it is hard for a business owner who is attempting to comply with all laws to know what to do.  The best thing anyone in the marijuana industry can do to make sure they stay ahead of any major changes is to speak with an experienced Los Angeles marijuana lawyer.  One thing to keep in mind, however, is while the marijuana industry has grown, so too has the number of lawyers claiming to specialize in this area of the law.

When you seek an initial consultation with a lawyer to represent your marijuana business, you should ask them how long they have been representing clients with these issues and what experience they really have so that you know you are getting the best reasonably possible legal representation for you and your business.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

More Blog Entries:

California Authorities Caught on Hidden Camera During Cannabis Collective Raid, June 30, 2015, Cannabis Law Group