Senate Bill 162, introduced by state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), would prohibit state-licensed cannabis businesses from advertising through branded merchandise. The aim of the bill is to curb children's exposure to cannabis ads, but many view this as a government overstep.
"To ban small businesses from advertising, marketing and branding is ridiculous," said Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition, the largest trade group of marijuana businesses in Los Angeles. "The bill would materially hamstring small business owners' ability to grow in the land of opportunity. We are firmly against and will work to ensure lawmakers are aware of the harmful ramifications it would have."
Hannah Abrams is the senior content editor for Promo Marketing. In her free time, she enjoys coming up with excuses to avoid exercise, visiting her hometown in Los Angeles and rallying for Leonardo DiCaprio to win his first second Academy Award.