Cannabis Advertising in Alaska is a Concern for Business Owners

For a newly legalized recreational cannabis state, business owners in Alaska are preparing for the hurdles they will soon be facing. Following the wake of supply issues, the newest obstacle is that related to cannabis advertising in the state.

The rules for cannabis advertising lie in a gray area, much like other cannabis industry woes throughout the country. Recently the Alaskan Marijuana Control Board met to discuss what counts as an ad, and how they plan to allow cannabis businesses to advertise, including restrictions. The Advisers noted that the gray area is vast, and the state’s current cannabis regulations don’t have a strict definition of “advertisement” at all. “Sure as heck, this could be one of the first things that we get complaints about,” said Board Member Mark Springer about advertising.

So far, the board has only agreed that aggressive advertising should be avoided, at least until the Trump administration has unveiled how it will approach medical and recreational cannabis. “We don’t know what the new administration will bring,” Assistant Attorney General Harriet Milks noted.

Currently, cannabis business owners can run ads through traditional outlets, but there are many restrictions on how a cannabis business can be portrayed, and it is very similar to the advertising rules for alcohol.